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BRIGITTA 


A TARE 

BY 

BERTHOLD AUERBACH, 

1 1 

WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 

BY 

J. HO^VARD GORE, PH. H., 

PROFESSOR OF GERMAN, COEUMBIAN UNIVERSITY. 


AUTHORIZED TRANSLATION FROM 
THE GERMAN 

li' bt 

JAMES A. McBRAYER, SR., 

\ 

lawrenceburg, ky. 


• • • 



• • 

• • 



IXTRODTJC 




R. H. CAROTHERS, 
PRINTER, 
LOUISVILLE, KY. 


THF l.lORAJiV OF 
CONGRESS, 
t'wf) Ct'Otbti Recsivcd 


■ 

•Ainls, 


SFP, £4 1902 



CoPVBtOHT eiMTRV 


crAss'ft^xxo. No, 


J M S' t 


COPV 8. 


COPYRIGHTED 1902 
BY 

JAMES A. McBRAXER, SB. 

Alili RIGHTS RESERVED 
EXCEPT AS TO 

J. HOWARD GORE, PH. D. 


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INTRODUCTION. 


T N the Black Forest, tw&ty miles from the uni- 
versity town of Tubingen, and high above the 
swift-flowing Neckar, stands Nordstetten — sleepy, 
quaint and time-worn. Though for the ordinary 
tourist ik possesses but little attraction, the lovers of 
German literature will always regard with interest 
this little village which, on the 28th of February, 1812, 
gave Berthold Auerbach to the world. The birth of 
this child excited in the community nothing more 
than the passing comment of immediate friends, and 
after the formal entry was made in the parish register, 
many of them forgot his existence, and the less toler- 
ant of that conservative town looked with sorrow 
upon this addition to the Jewish ranks. 

His early years were spent at the Rabbinical school 
at Heckingen, where the instruction, peculiarly sec- 
tarian, and the taunts he was obliged to hear because 
of the faith of his fathers, gave the impetus to his 
first literary w^ork and direction to his future life. 
However, yielding to parental wishes, he began at 
Tubingen the studies incidental to the profession of 
law,, but pursued them with only a forced interest, 
his greater desire being to undermine those prejudices 
to which the Jews of that day were subjected. With 


IV. 


INTRODUCTION. 


this end in view he entered zealously upon the study 
of theology and philosophy at Munich. This was 
followed by still more serious work at Heidelberg. 

The first tangible results of his labors in this 
direction was a thesis on ** Judaism and its Relation 
to Recent Literature/^ published in 1886, followed 
during the next year by a novel, Spinoza," which 
contained sketches of Jewish life and refiections upon 
philosophical subjects. His study of philosophy led 
him to adopt the views of Spinoza, and believing 
that nothing but ignorance of these views prevented 
their general adoption, Auerbach translated the works 
of Spinoza and published them in 1841. The meager 
success achieved in this undertaking caused him to 
cut adrift from the abstract, and realizing the wealth 
of material immediately surrounding him in the 
folk-lore of his mountain home, he turned his atten- 
tion to the writing of stories, publishing in 1848 
the first collection under the title, Schwarz w alder 
DorfgeschichtenJ^ 

The dialect of his youth — Swabian — was especi- 
ally potent in lending a charm to those simple tales. 
Its very simplicity of structure made it the proper 
vehicle for the expression of the untrammeled 
thoughts of the peasants. Its fondness for recurring 
sounds made it possible to add emphasis by the use 
of rhyming and alliterative phrases, while its rich- 
ness in the metaphor substituted graphic simile for 


INTRODUCTION. 


V. 


ornate diction. Auerbach was permeated with the 
spirit of this dialect, and breathed it with all of its 
charm and beauty into his stories. 

** Attf der Hohe/^ the novel best known at home 
and abroad, appeared in 1865, and at once took a high 
rank in German fiction. In 1867 followed ^^Das 
Landhatts am Rhein/^ but it failed to achieve the 
success of its predecessor because of its burden of 
lengthy dialogues on social and metaphysical topics. 

Literary work occupied Auerbach’s time quite 
fully, but rather on account of its pleasures than its 
profit. Letter writing became his favorite pastime, 
and having for friends Uhland, Freilegrath, Strauss, 
Jacoby, Lasker, Spielhagen, Mommsen and Du Bois- 
Reymond, one may realize that his letters rose far 
above mere interchange of gossip. 

^^Bfigitta ** was not written until 1880, and though 
thus late in the author’s life, it reveals no loss of 
skill in painting men and women, and, in the opinion 
of many, it surpasses some of his earlier tales. In 
we have the maximum of simplicity, for 
the entire story is the narrative of the heroine and 
is thus free from complex structure and elaborate 
diction. 

The latter years of Auerbach’s life were spent in 
Berlin. He left that city only to seek relief at 
Cannes from an ailment which finally caused his 
death on February 8, 1882. 



INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION. 


Vll. 


INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION* 

One of my old friends, Emanuel Ottenheimer — 
familiarly saluted Charlie — who died a few weeks 
since, was acquainted with Berthold Auerbach, author 
of “ Brigitta,” and informed me that he was a con- 
temporary of his mother, reared in the same section 
of Germany, and he remembered upon one occasion 
when Berthold Auerbach came home from abroad a 
grand ovation was made in his honor. 

William Euler, another of my German friends, 
three years ago loaned me the Jubilaum Ausgabe of 
the Louisville Anzieger of March 1st, 1898, being the 
fiftieth anniversary of its publication, and looking 
over same — it being the grandest make up of a news- 
paper I had ever seen — I was induced to study its 
language, it being principally German ; and during 
the summer of 1901 was loaned to me by G. A. Wil- 
liams the German novel “ Brigitta,” which I essayed 
to translate into English. 

Dr. J. Howard Gore, Ph. D., Professor of German, 
Columbian University, holding the copyright of the 
edition of “Brigitta,” and thereby having the ex- 
clusive right to translate or dramatize the same, was 


Vlll. 


INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION. 


addressed, January 27, 1902, for permission to trans- 
late same, and I received his reply March 8, 1902, as 
follows : 

“I have not the slightest objection to your mak- 
ing a translation of my edition of “ Brigitta,” and so 
far as in my power I am pleased to grant you full 
authority to proceed with the translation. 

Very truly yours, J. H. Gore.” 

Dr. Alfred Hoffeld and Isaac Hirsch, two of my 
German friends, kindly aided me in this work, and 
just here it gives me pleasure to mention the names 
of my four German friends — E. Ottenheinier, Wil- 
liam Euler, Dr. Hoffeld and Isaac Hirsch — in connec- 
nection with this translation, it being made in the 
seventy-fourth year of my age, and for the generous 
and kind permission recited above I have inscribed 
this imperfect translation to Dr. J. Howard Gore, 
having omitted the latter part of the introduction 
and the notes of his edition, and in this form it is 
sent forth with the hope that its readers may learn to 
do the next best act of loving their enemies, to do 
good to them, and to this extent obey the Golden 
Rule. 


J. A. McBRAYER, SR. 


This Translation, 

WITH ITS MANY DEFECTS, IS INSCRIHED 
TO THE GENEROUS PATRON AND 
FRIEND OF LEARNING, 

DR. J. HOWARD GORE, PH. D., 

PROFESSOR OF GERMAN, COLUMBIAN UNIVERSITY, 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 



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“BRIGITTA” 


BY 

BERTHOLD AUERBACH* 


TRANSLATED BY 

J* A* MCBRAYER, SR* 

A* D. I90L 


FIRST CHAPTER. 

They say follow me, that I have practiced the 
hardest commandment: “Love your enemies.” I 
am not so good as men believe; there is one who 
passes for better than he is, while another for worse. 

My husband looks not at all elegant, but whoever 
knows him and our history well, must say: “All 
respects for such a man.” There may be those more 
distinguished, but none more upright and better, and 
he is also very clever, except in one respect ; he regards 
it every day as a proud fortune, that I, a daughter of a 
large farmer, took him for a husband, and when he 
will do himself a special favor, he calls me the Prin- 
cess of the Wild Plum Farm. I was born at the 
Wild Plum Farm, but the house is no more to be 
seen — there, where it stood, now grow the forest 
trees. 


12 


brigitta: a tale 


Then there above on the road near the Boden 
Lake, up at the water shed, before it descends, there 
one sees in the midst of a dark wood of firs a fine 
leafy tree — that is the hollow Linden at the sunken 
spring — this is the only sign that once any one had 
lived there. 

For two years I have been only once there, but no 
ten horses bring me further on. Truly, thoughts are 
stronger than ten horses, and they bring me very 
often involuntarily in dreams and in waking; and 
there I see the house, broad and large, with the thick 
thatched roof and brown beams, out of which it was 
built; at the corner, on the eastern side, are many 
windows near each other, and from the mountain 
down one can drive into the upper barn. Our house 
was one of the oldest in the whole section, and cer- 
tainly it was the coldest; but we had not much 
experience thereof, the room was heated the entire 
year, and we certainly had plenty of wood. It was 
my mother’s inheritance ; father was the older son of 
the farmer who owned the upper place — the younger . 
Uncle Donatus, had gained father’s inheritance, and 
my father had desired to secure another farm in ad- 
dition to the one he obtained by marriage, and that 
was the very thing which caused the future trouble. 

At the house* was an orchard, and adjoining a 
few acres, but not many. We have planted over 
there only oats and potatoes; we have sold hay; 
breadstuffs we had to buy — for. also the few acres 
that we have below by the village didn’t hold out for 
oUr domestic use, with the many servants and day 
laborers. Whenever a family died off or moved 
out of the village, then father has offered for sale 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


IS 


the acres not sold; he has said, the poor people 
should become owners of the land. He had meant 
well with the men, even if he hadn’t so expressed it 
in words. He was contented until — yes, that I will 
indeed relate, when I come to it 

It has been lonesome at the Wild Plum Farm, but 
if one is accustomed to it, one needs no company. 
At evening father smoked and mother was spinning. 
I have, when I went to school, many times read aloud 
out of my school books. I have always liked to read. 
Mother, on the recommendation of the pastor, had 
also subscribed to a sacred history, with many pic- 
tures therein. I have read aloud out of that also, 
but not willingly. I had myself experienced what 
the innocent ones of God must suffer for pain and 
torture, and have screamed out in my sleep, for what 
was so dreadfully pictured appeared so real to me, 
until I became nervous and frightened ; then father 
had forbidden that in the future such things be read 
in the night, and what father had said, was said once 
for all. 

Father was named Alexander, but was called by 
us Xander; he had served with the mounted rifles 
with their huge bear-skin caps ; the regiment has not 
existed for a long time, but father was proud of 
his honorable discharge, that hung on the wall in a 
golden frame. Indeed, father had much flattered him- 
self on account of it, and it came to be his misfortune 
and also ours. There were five brothers and sisters ; 
three died early, and mother has often said — but only 
to strangers and when father was not present — the 
farm is too rough. 

I am the youngest child, was growing up in com- 


14 


brigitta: a tale 


fort and also in peace till in my thirteenth year. 
Peace was in our house, no gaiety; there was work, 
prayer, eating and sleeping. We had six, often 
eight, horses in stalls, and we had even raised colts. 
Schmaje, a cattle dealer, has brought to father what 
was necessary, and took away with him what was not 
needful, and for us no longer useful. Father worked 
with the servants as one of them. We have stock in 
the saw-mill and the firewood was conveyed to market 
with our own horses. 

Father had also — I believe the forester Jorns, he 
was still young then, advised him thereto — to set out 
a bark forest, above on the high plain. The oak 
bark forest had brought in good money, and the only 
gay time was, when in spring the women who peeled 
the bark were singing. Bonifacia, wife of the Road- 
master, was also always there; she knew the most 
songs, and I and my oldest sister, we have also helped ; 
since then I have still those many songs in memory; 
they often go through my soul, and then it is to me 
always as if I scent the sap of the young oaks. 

Sundays we rode to the church — it is almost one 
hour distant — my sister and I on the back seat, father 
and mother on the front seat; our grays, with the 
beautiful harness, were hitched together, and proud 
were we to ride there. Hardly a word would be spoken, 
one forgot also his speech in the solitude. 

Father had no associates; seldom did he go into 
the public room at the Angel Tavern, where we put 
up our team. When his pipe was in position he was 
happy, and when a comrade of the regiment addresed 
him, he passed his tobacco pouch, that his comrade 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


15 


might fill his also ; cigars had at that time not yet 
been furnished by us. 

Father was chairman of the municipal council ; 
they had willingly made him the Mayor, but we lived 
too far off ; they can only use a man in that office 
who lives nearer by the church, by the town hall and 
school house, where the people can more easily bring 
forward their affairs. 

When father was at the town hall mother went 
with us two little girls to the poor people ; she had 
us willingly along when she practiced charity, and 
the poor have often said: “Indeed, children, you 
must prosper. The good deeds of your mother must 
be repaid you.” Then has mother looked on us, her 
eyes swimming with tears ; she was so tender hearted. 

Who could suspect that it would thus overtake us 
and that I alone should be left remaining, and after 
hardships should be again as well to do, as I now am? 

SECOND CHAPTER. 

The last house in the village next to our farm was 
that of the Roadmaster — thus named by us the street 
guardian. About the house and around was every- 
thing so neat, and in the small garden were the earli- 
est and the latest flowers and well cultivated vege- 
table bed, and inside the small room everything was 
as in a doll house. Bonifacia had always time for 
everything and was always properly dressed. Truly, 
she had no one at home but her husband ; her only 
son, Ronymus, was a servant for us. Bonifacia had 
been previously also in our service, and she had clung 
to us as if she was still our servant. Bonifacia 
never consented to accept what was given her ; she 


16 


BRIGITTA.: A TALE 


has said : “ Mistress, I leave the gifts you wish me to 
have to remain with you, and fetch them some time 
when I am in need.” But she has never for that 
come to us. On the contrary. 

My sister married young, much too young, the son 
of the proprietor of the Angel Tavern in the village. 
Father gave her a large outfit, in pure cash. I have 
held with both hands the little sack as the gold and 
silver were poured therein. I am told it brings success 
when the hand of an innocent child is then present. 

I had for my sister’s marriage to get me a new 
dress, as this was the fashion with us at our home ; 
now one sees her again almost not at all. I never 
was prouder in my life than at that time, as the 
music went on and we followed. Uncle Donatus and 
all of our relatives were there by each other, but I 
have thought every one looked only at me and my 
beautiful dress. My sister wept, and from that 
some prophesied good luck, but it has not yet come 
to pass. At the wedding banquet there was a gay 
time. 

The trumpeter of the band had belonged to the 
mounted rifles, and my father let him blow the 
reveille, and he whistled to it ; so gay I never saw 
him before. I remember quite surely that father at 
that time had spoken of his Captain (of horse) to 
the Baron Haueisen; what he said of him I know 
nothing more, but the name has remained with me * 
from that time on. 

I went away from the weddiog table and stood 
down at the house door, and there I heard how a 
husband and wife — I didn’t know them — talked with 
each other. The husband said: “That is the only 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


17 


child of Xander, that will get some day the large 
farm, that is the princess of the Wild Plum Farm, 
and can obtain a distinguished farmer’s prince.” I am 
a-farmer’s princess and got a princely farm, that has 
flashed on me .as lightning into my soul. Yes, 
yonder at the door of the house. 

I have gotten enormously proud, and when I now 
saw the many beggars and cripples, who had assembled 
out of the whole section around the wedding place, I 
went to my brother-in-law and asked him to give me 
money ; hie gave it to me and I have distributed it 
among the poor. My first childish charity was pride. 
I was now also going to school. The way was far 
from our village, and I was, till in my fifteenth year, 
feeble and small ; thus my first sorrow began with 
me.. I staid the first school year at my sister’s, but 
had severe home-sickness after being out from the 
farm. In the public house, where so many jDeople 
were passing in and out, each w'as allowed to take a seat 
where he pleased, and cry and shout and order inso- 
lently; this was unpleasant to me. 

My sister died at her first child. Agnes, we have 
her wdth us. She is the only child of my sister. 

When my sister died, I was taken home again. 
But so are the people, never contented ; now I was so 
lonesome at our farm and the road to school so far. 

At first I have certainly not at all been able to 
understand that there at the mountain in the church 
yard lies my sister, and she comes not and says noth- 
ing and does nothing and cares not about her child 
and not about her only sister. But in youth one 
forgets all soon again, and it is well. I was gay and. 

B 


18 


brigitta: a tale 


had on the way to and fro sung just like a child of 
twelve or thirteen years. 

My mother had wished to keep her grand-daughter, 
Agnes, with her; brother-in-law had taken her again 
with him, as he had married the second time — over 
there in Switzerland. 

THIRD CHAPTER. 

One day the forester, Jorns, rode up to our house. 
He was then still young, but already in high esteem. 
I never forgot it — how I saw him at that time, and 
how he came in, then entered joy and honor with 
him, so likewise instantly in our sitting room. The 
forester sat on the table and said: “Wild Plum 
farmer, call your wife, I have something to tell you 
both.” 

“ Mother can not at all cease to speak of the honor 
and joy of such a visit.” 

But the forester said, smiling with self-satisfac- 
tion : “ Never mind ; but what say you to this — that 
I am come to drive you from house and farm? 
Indeed, I think the just way is also the best way for 
you both. Also I have, in short, the authority from 
the government to buy from you your farm ; with you 
no agent is needed. You are a just man, with you 
one goes out of rank. We estimate, according to 
right and reason, what the farm is worth and pay 
cash.” 

Father and mother looked at each other, and 
father said: “Wife, what do you think of that? ” 

Mother coughed hard, and the forester said : “ The 
cough gives answer. The farm is too cold, fully five 
months, from the beginning of winter till candlemas, 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


19 


the sun doesn’t shine on your roof. There people 
can not prosper; then wild animals belong here.” 

“ What do you mean by that? ” asked father. 

‘ ‘ Simply, we will make out of your farm another 
forest.” 

“ That would be impossible. That we are unable 
to answer for those who have lived there before us.” 

“Yet, yet,” said mother, “if there is a good 
bargain, why not? ” 

“ You say that?” replied father. “ And yet your 
ancestors lived there, not those of mine. I for my- 
self say: ‘Mr. Forester, due respect to your propo- 
sition, but who is well situated should not move. I 
move not. If my wife will — ’ ” 

“ I — I have indeed often thought, the heaven is at 
all times over the world — ” She would have indeed 
willingly said more, but it had brought nothing for- 
ward, and the forester did not assist further ; but he 
insisted on it that now nothing shall be made bind- 
ing, the parents shall think over everything for them- 
selves and send him ^vord of their decision. I stood 
without before the house and looked at the house and 
fields and the forest, and can I believe that one can 
sell and go away from it all. I don’t understand 
this. When I came in the room to suppei, I asked. 
When we sell our farm, then where do we go? Mother 
said, and at the same time looked at father: “We 
sell not at all. We remain here where our ancestors 
have accumulated, and with sound bodies have grown 
old.” 


20 


BRIGITTA : A TALE 


FOURTH CHAPTER. 

It was a bright autumn day; down in the valley 
the trees already had golden leaves ; with us above- 
there now grew the first ripe cherries. I went home 
from school, had my school satchel hanging over my 
shoulder, and was thus singing to myself. I know 
that song, though not all, but at the end is this: 

“ The cherries they are black and red, 

I love my sweetheart until dead.” 

Thus a child sings and knows not what it is. 
Then I heard behind me something. I looked around 
and there came a wondrously beautiful carriage, 
drawn by one horse ; then, everything was so fine that 
you couldn’t tell of what it was made, and still held 
together. 

It was a two-wheeled wagon, nearly like a cart, but 
high and fine, and on it sat a man. He had on a 
soldier’s cap, or supposed to be one; he stops. I 
stood still ; the vehicle came nearer ; the man wore a 
long, tightly twisted mustache, like a cat’s whiskers, 
and his eyes were green ; but no, it was only green 
glasses. 

I stood still, as if I couldn’t at all move from the 
spot. To what place do you wish to go? The road leads 
only to our house. The horse, the vehicle and the 
man thereon came always nearer. The man asked 
me : “ Child ! which way? ” I was frightened in my 
heart deeply — we had grown up very timid at the 
lonely farm. He asked me once more, and I said: 
“To the Wild Plum Farm.” “Are you then at 
home there? ” “Yes.” “ To whom do you belong?” 
“The owner of the farm.” “What is his name? ”■ 
“Xander.” 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


21 


With a leap he was down from the small vehicle; 
he had high shining boots on. “ Come, child,” he said, 
“ I take you to your father’s farm.” I couldn’t say 
a word. He took me around the body and lifted me 
like a ball into the beautiful vehicle ; sprang in 
again and quickly away it went as if flying. The 
man asked me how old I was. I said : “I am going 
into my thirteenth year.” 

“ You are still small,” he said. 

He clasped my hand and said: “Your fingers, 
after you will grow again still more, being judges, 
you will become as large as your father.” 

The prophecy — and it has come true — has made 
me very glad, for I am not at all pleased to be so 
small. 

I asked the man why he had on green glasses, and 
then he declared to me that he had bad eyes, I told 
him I also had bad eyes, but the female messenger, 
Cordula, had cured them for me by this means : that 
a fresh laid egg, while it is still warm, must be laid 
on the eyes. 

“ That I will also do, I thank you,” he said. 

I had lost all fear and was glad at heart that I 
could certainly cure a man, and one so distinguished. 

Indeed, my eye healing had already commenced 
early. When we drove up to the mountain opposite 
our farm, I must show him my copy-books. He 
praised me, that I could write so beautifully. I said, 
in mental arithmetic I can do still better. He gave 
me problems. I worked them all out, and he said: 
“You are very skillful and you are also pretty.” 
Indeed, I was yet still a child, but there is nothing 
worse than to say such a thing to a child. 


22 


brigitta: a tale 


The serpent in Paradise had surely also said to 
Eve: “Oh, how beautiful; how wonderfully hand- 
some you arel” It had truly at that time not yet 
been able to say : You are more beautiful than this 
and that one — and this makes the first flattery right 
sweet. 


FIFTH CHAPTER. 

We stopped at the farm close by. Father looked 
out of the window and called: “ Why, what comes 
there?” 

“ Then do you no longer know me?” replied the 
man. 

“ Why, my Mister Captain of the Horse,” spoke 
father, and came out, brought a chair for to alight and 
held his hat in his hand ; but the Captain laughed : 
“Old comrade, never mind the chair, I can still 
vault. But before I alight I must beg you for some- 
thing. Give me your child there. We have no 
children, and just such a one I have wished for.” 

“ The Mr. Captain makes a benevolent joke,” said 
my father, and laughed. He lifted me down and 
caressed my cheeks, what he had formerly never 
yet done. 

I stood on the ground, as if I had fallen from the 
sky. So this is father’s Captain and I am pretty! 
I went into the house, into our room, stood on the 
bench and viewed myself in the mirror. I have 
passed my hands over my cheeks; yes, I am pretty, 
and sensible am I also, and a princess of the farm 
besides. 

I heard father with the Captain in the room. I 
took myself quickly out of the room, washed myself, 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


28 


rubbed myself, and put on my beautiful clothes, 
those of the marriage of my sister. Mother came in 
and asked : “ What is that? ” 

“Yes, mother, I must dress myself still differ- 
ently before so prominent a man.” “Whether that 
is a greater gentleman I know not. At any rate we 
need not to appear before him otherwise than we 
are.” I went now also with mother into the room. 
Then said the Captain of Horse: “ Xander, either 
sayest thou also thou to me, or I say you." 

Father looked before himself down, and the man 
went away. “ Also I say you and we are still good 
friends. Again I request, you call me no more 
Captain of Horse. I will no more be so named. You 
still know my name.” 

“ Oh, certainly!” said father; “ there you see it 
stands to me and mine daily before my eyes.” 

He showed him the discharge hanging on the 
wall ; under it stood the name of the Captain of 
Cavalry. 

Oh! If we at that time had known why the man 
was so modest and insinuating. 

It must have just now happened. 

Mother also asked why he wore green glasses. He 
said he had sore eyes. He speaks again not willingly 
thereof, for as soon as he spoke thereof his eyes be- 
came painful to him. This is what mother had with 
her sorrow just the same, and the Captain knew just 
to tell her how she suffered and not let it be noticed. 
Mother looked at father, as if she wished to say : 
“ This is one time a well bred gentleman understands 
my sorrows.” 

The Captain, then, for all that, took off his glasses, 


24 


brigitta; a tale 


and he had eyes as beautiful as a blue stone, on 
which the sun shines. I can not at all describe how 
beautiful. He went with father to the stable and 
mother now said : “ Coihe, we will just put on our 
Sunday clothes in honor of the gentleman.” 

Father came up from the stable to say, he goes 
with the CaiDtain into the forest, and now you 
will boil and bake, our room fresh sweep, and spread 
a table cloth, bright as a mirror. Mother took the 
soldier’s discharge of father’s from the wall, and 
cleaned it afresh. 

The man came back and at the meal the Captain 
said: “Indeed, dear friend, you are one of the hap- 
piest men of the world. You have a complete house, 
a good wife and a healthy child. I wish I were as 
good a farmer as you.” 

Father stroked the smooth table cloth and nodded 
before himself forward, and mother said: “It is 
worthy of thanks, when one once again hears how well 
off he really is; it is so easily forgotten.” 

“With your permission, Captain,” asked father, 
“ are you sincerely come in order to visit me?” 

“ That is right that thou — that you so straight for- 
ward ask, and I say also straight forward : No, not on 
that account alone. I heard that you wish to sell 
your farm to the State, or also only the forest. I am 
now also a man of business. I must, however, have 
something to do. I give always two hundred florins 
more than the State offers. Now, again I say : Don’t 
change; remain on your ground and soil, there are 
you the real freeman.” 

He now related that he was in business with the 
owner of the raspberry farm, who maybe a speculator 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


25 


where may be a gain, also may be a loss. They had 
together undertaken, at present, a heavy contract for 
railroad ties. 

“I can also furnish ties,” father said. And the 
Captain agreed. 

“Yes, you can well do that. Your trees have 
moss-beard, they must be shaved. Landlady, your 
ancestors must have been honest and rich people, 
that they have bequeathed you such a forest. You 
do not at all know how much dead capital is invested 
in your forest.” 

It was getting late, I went to bed ; but I heard, as 
the Captain at last stood up, something about a black 
horse; and at last mother said: “The Herr Baron 
shall yet come again, and bring his wife with him, 
and shall let us also merit something so good as the 
raspberry farmer.” What he said after that, I didn’t 
hear, only this: “ I have also your promise not to 
sell without my first bid. Now, farewell, and greet 
for me your beautiful daughter. What is her name?” 

“Brigitta!” I answered out from the bed-room. 
The man laughed and mother scolded ; soon the vehicle 
rolled from the house, and then all was still. 

SIXTH CHAPTER. 

On the following Saturday there also happened 
some news. The barber came, and father, who for- 
merly was entirely smooth on the face, had left grow- 
ing a mustache. He had wished again to be a soldier 
for his Captain of Horse. 

The mustache of father’s was already so large 
that he was able to take it between his fingers. There 
came a two-span coach driving up to our farm. On 


26. 


brigitta: a tale 


the driver’s seat sat two servants. In the coach sat 
the Captain, and by his side his wife; she had a hat 
with an arched feather, and in front lay a dead bird. 

Mother couldn’t at all say how much she was 
rejoiced, that the wife had also come to see us. The 
Captain’s wife — one has only to call her Baroness — 
rubbed herself with a fine cloth over the face. O, 
how has that cloth emitted a fragrance ; the whole 
room became full of it. She raised up the window, 
and said : “ The air is too closely confined here.” She 
had a voic^ like Cordula’s, such as a half man’s voice. 
Mother asked who had played this trick on the wife 
and had put on her hat a dead bird. The lady 
laughed — it was not a genuine one — but she quickly 
regained herself, and said : “ Dear farmer’s wife, this 
is now the fashion.” 

Mother shrugged her shoulders, called to me, and 
said : “ Give the Lady Baroness your beautiful hand.” 
“Don’t! 1 can’t permit this to the child. Dear 
farmer’s wife, of the Wild Plum Farm, I am also 
straight forward like the farmer — who is offended at 
me shall take the offense. I say it openly, I can not 
permit the child.” 

When my parents and the Captain and his wife 
sat at the table, beautifully covered with linen, the 
Captain asked: “Now, Leontine, are you yet con- 
vinced?” “ How so convinced?” mother asked. 

“ Indeed, you dear friends, I have brought with 
me my wif^^, that she at once learns to know the real 
honorable peasant. She has hitherto had an antipa- 
thy and superstition ; she had always thought, among 
the peasants, it was very disorderly here. She now 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


2T 


sees how beautiful it is on such a solid and honorable 
peasant farm.” 

“ Yes, I am now convinced,” said the Baroness, 
and made a look, like a child that just comes from 
confirmation, and when she laid a hand, with the fine 
long fingers, on the hand of mother’s, father said : 
‘‘Yes, Baroness, that conviction is from two sides; 
also my wife, on the other hand, had supposed the 
distinguished persons, who speak such literary Ger- 
man, are not regarded as correct.” 

It was merry, how they teased each other up and 
down, and father spoke out of his mustache bluntly, 
much more freely than ever. 

The Captain had no glasses on, and mother asked 
if his eyes were again’ entirely well. 

“ Oh, no,” he said, “ but my wife will not suffer 
it that I have sore eyes.” 

The Baroness looked at her husband with an evil 
eye, and said : “ Indeed, the good peasant’s wife has 
told me her heavy sorrow — and there ! look at her, 
how she bears it. The men who call us weakness, 
can overcome no pain; there are we wives stronger. 
Take yourself an example of this simple peasant’s 
wife. From this day on you are not allowed to grunt 
and groan any more. I will not listen to it any 
longer.” 

She said this almost laughing, and the Captain 
bit his lips. When they were driving off in the car- 
riage, and father was praising the fine Baroness, then 
mother said : “ That is a bad, a very wicked woman ; 
she hasn’t a straight look.” 

“ She is not cross-eyed, is she?” 

“ No, but still she hasn’t a straight look. How 


28 


brigitta: a tale 


she has snubbed her husband before our eyes, and he 
can not yet have in our presence a controversy. She 
holds it for a shame to be sick, because she is well. 
And how very submissive is the good husband to 
her. He has put for her his hands under her feet. 
As she is sitting in the carriage he has wrapped her 
feet in a robe — I have seen it — and then he has still 
asked: “ Is it all right, sweetheart?” And she has 
never once thanked him. 

SEVENTH CHAPTER. 

From that day on the harmony between my 
parents was growing less, and at first I myself was to 
blame. The Captain then came again and said to me, 
he wanted to make a present for my confirmation, 
what shall I wish for myself. Mother forbade me to 
accept a present ; the man was not related to us and 
not my godfather, and we are anyway not people who 
allow themselves to accept presents. But father said 
that was an affair of honor, the distinguished people 
accepted presents from the princes, and anyway he 
understood better what was proper in society. 

I was, of course, on the side of my father, and 
when the Captain, on account of the delivery of ties, 
was again there, I had for myself wished for a golden 
chain. I have obtained it, and what besides has 
been the most beautiful on it was a clasp, and on it 
my name, “ Brigitta,” with raised letters in gold. 

Such a thing has not another child had, and yet I 
was prouder thereof than of my beautiful dress at 
the marriage of my sister. 

I was almost angry at my mother because she said : 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


29 


“One can choke a person also with a golden chain. 

And yet that has almost become true. 

My mother was always cross and father always 
jovial, and I was also very gay. There was always 
much hard cash in the house, and money laughed, 
and father laughed also, when he piled gold and silver 
on each other. Perhaps, too, mother had not come to 
know — I at least knew not — where the money came 
from at that time. Mother wished he should give up 
the contract ; she supposed they must let the forester 
Jorns know, as had been promised. Father thought, 
too, the State would not run away, and had pro- 
crastinated the message to Jorns from month to 
month. 

When it was reported that the State had bought 
domain farther up, father said : “ They must indeed 
still come to me. They can not cross over me. I lie 
in the way of them.” This he has shown to us on a 
township map, that the Captain once had brought 
to him. 

Mother said : “ It can still go to you, as the man 
who had a view for sale.” This was the same one of 
the small men who, formerly good and industrious, 
had lived on an eminence as a maker of clock cases. 
Now people often came to him who had surveyed th^ 
neighborhood, also prominent women have come, and 
all have said — here must the Princess build herself a 
castle, for there is the most beautiful view and the 
best atmosphere in the whole land. From that on 
the little man grew foolish, and worked no more, and 
always waited on the people, who bought of him the 
beautiful views. 

When my mother said this of the picture seller. 


80 


brigitta: a tale 


father struck with his fist on the table, but suddenly 
he laughed, and said : “ Then was I indeed very fool- 
ish to get angry about it ; I have my understanding 
healthy, and retain it.” 

Yes, he has flattered himself much in regard to it, 
that he is wise, and the Captain has convinced him 
still more of it. 

Father, who formerly for a month at a time, came 
not away from the farm, now has been no three days 
after one another more at home, then he is always 
riding and driving. Besides, father said not a Avord 
over the meal; now he has not enjoyed himself any 
more at home, and mother was so sad over it, that 
she herself scarcely ate anything. 

When father remained at home, he was not really 
at home ; he was restless in the room, going to and 
fro; he was always just waiting for something to 
turn up. 

In the winter we have felled more wood than ever 
before; the people of the vicinity have earned much 
of it, but also many persons from abroad. We had 
at work men of all lands, with women and children, 
who in the summer had worked on the railroad. 
They lived in our barns and stables. There was 
many wild folk, and on our farm it was like a gypsy 
camp. 

Mother asked, certainly quite shy, “How is it, 
then, if the forester, Jorns, has agreed thereto, and 
if he will not soon settle with him?” 

“Yes,” said father, “now they want the forest 
people not to ask yet ; but they wish a law made by 
the legislature that we are not to have more bosses 
over our property. They shall make it; in the 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


31 


meantime I fell my forest, and the State must after- 
wards still come and give me an equal price for the 
vacant land, which it was willing to give me therefor 
together with the forest.” 

Mother was satisfied, and asked only further : “ Do 
you trust the Captain in everything?” 

“So well as you. One can follow blindly him 
who has his eyes open. Be only quiet, without anxiety, 
and don’t let anybody persuade you overmuch.” 

“ You are the master,” said mother, “ I say noth- 
ing against it.” And thus she has observed it. 

In the spring there was much money in our house, 
but father had not let it lie idle. He had, with the 
Captain, bought a forest in Bavaria. Through it the 
railroad must come, it has been reported; one must 
only wait. 


EIGHTH CHAPTER. 

Father has purchased for himself a carriage. 
Mother has never taken a seat in it. Often has 
Ronymus driven the carriage, but most of the time 
father. Now and then he has also taken me with him. 
He is, so it seems, not willing to be alone. On the 
road, high over against the Boden Lake, stands in 
the forest a lonely tavern. There we met the Captain. 
Soon came Mr. Schaller. He saluted the Captain 
very courteously, my father only slightly. 

“ That is also your only daughter. I wish I had 
also such an one. Do not give her in marriage until 
my son again comes home from America, then shall 
she become my daughter.” 

I heard not what the men said to each other, but 


32 


brigitta: a tale 


father stood up and said : “ Then I am the man, for 
the hoe I can find a handle.” 

When the Captain praised father, father laughed 
all over his face and went away. I wanted to go 
with him, but he didn’t take me. I must stay by my- 
self in the lonesome tavern. 

I went before the house, sat on the bench, and 
heard three men therein laughing and making much 
noise. 

I was sitting there and seeing beside me a large 
spider — it was crouched in the middle of a cobweb — 
a fly coming along it was caught. It had perhaps 
thought there was only air, but there are fine threads. 
The fly struggled but can’t get loose; it snatches 
with its feet around itself and over itself, it comes 
not loos^. The spider discovers certainly that it has 
been caught. It trembles, indeed, exhausted, and 
who knows what it thinks. It waits again still ; the 
spider comes along on a run ; the fly begins again to 
struggle. The spider takes himself away and waits 
again, and waits until the fly moves itself hardly at 
all, then the spider spins around it, begins to suck 
itself fast to it, and drains it out. 

At that time, on the bench, it all at once came to 
me ; the Captain or the Bergschinder — that is the 
spider, and my father is the fly. 

When I was thus still thinking, my father came 
along, and by him was Mr. Heckerbauer and Mr. 
Schmaje. I went also with them into the room. 
When we came in, Mr. Schaller followed Mr. Schmaje 
forth and called: “If you don’t go. I’ll show you, 
that you, a Jew, are not allowed to attend a sale of 
real estate.” 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


Mr. Schmaje went out and muttered something 
like a curse. Schaller laughed — he always shut his 
eyes when he laughed — and declared that to be a 
great joke, that one can tease Schmaje more or less, 
as one chooses. The men went with Mr. Heckerbauer 
into a side room. I heard hands strike together ; the 
bargain appeared closed. 

It was soon night. Our carriage was hitched up, 
and when we wished to mount, the Captain came and 
said to father — he has now a share in the business 
with Mr. Heckerbauer ; he wished him to sell his in- 
terest and pay cash. Father thanked him and said, 
he was the man to be around and share fully in 
profit and loss. 

We drove along, and father whistled on the way 
his soldier signal to himself. Suddenly we were 
halted. Schmaje there stood. He spoke very im- 
pressively to father herein, and warned him of the 
robber band he was falling into. “ Schaller, particu- 
larly,” he said, “ sneered at you, and called you only 
a goat, you appeared so lean and still had plenty of 
fat on your body. He said he wished to slaughter 
you, pen and all. And the Captain he is just as bad. 
Make yourself free ! These are the blood leeches ; 
these are spiders; they impoverish you.” “Yes, 
spiders,” I called, “ and one fell on me, which I saw 
to-day.” 

Schmaje said: “Do you hear that? Your child, 
your innocent child, says it also.” 

“And she understands it just as well as you. I 
must still also be by it, if I am deceived.” 

“ Oh,Xander, good fellow!” cried Schmaje there, 
c 


84 


brigitta: a tale 


and wept almost then. “Oh, Xander! You are an 
honest man. Your father was an honest man. Your 
brother Donatus is an honest man. I went already 
near thirty years out and in at your house. Here your 
child on earth and your father in heaven are wit- 
nesses, that I have warned you. I wish I may see no 
more stars, I wish my own child may never see, if I 
speak not the truth. Do you wish to take up with 
Schaller? Do you know what Schaller has done for 
you?” 

*“Me? What?” 

“ By him seven devils can go in the school? He 
has, in order to tame you and make you tame, let 
them deceive you. He has — ” 

“Enough I enough!” father interrupts him. “ I 
deceive not. But say, if you expect that, what must 
I give you? I offer you one hundred florins — if you 
repeat that, what you said then, before Schaller and 
the Captain.” 

“ A soldier and an advocate at the same time? 
That is too much for me,” complained Schmaje. 
“ But name still the person, not again the Captain — 
he has been thrust out with shame, and disgraced by 
a court of honor.” 

Without Schmaje giving further answer, father 
whipped the horse and drove on. I still looked back, 
and there stood Schmaje, and he lifted his hands up 
to heaven. We drove on; father whistled no more, 
and I said : “ Schmaje certainly means w^ell.” Father 
impressed it on me I should tell mother nothing of 
the circumstance. “ You are already wise enough,” 
he said, “ I will entrust it to you. I have also in 
mind to make myself free from that affair and again 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


35 


continue to live to old age. I must yet this large 
business in Bavaria and two others wind up. But 
mother , said nothing of all this, she is very much 
distressed, and is also not at all well.” 

In the night mother has awakened, and scolded 
me : “ What makes you scream out always about the 
spider? There is indeed none there.” 

I must have dreamed of the spider. 


NINTH CHAPTER. 

A few days after that the Captain came riding on 
horseback to our house. Formerly there was always 
a groom behind him, in addition ; to-day he was 
alone. He said in the room to father that he had 
discharged the groom, who for some days had been 
disrespectful to father. 

I went before the house ; there stood Ronymus on 
a ladder at the barn door and nailed to it a hawk. 
He told me that yesterday he had shot the hawk, just 
as it had a yellow-hammer in its claws, but it was 
already dead. The hawk was nailed up, and when 
Ronymus stood on the ground, he said : “ Do you 
know what I would like to do? The Captain I should 
like to thus nail up. That one is also a hawk, and 
your father is the yellow-hammer.” 

He had scarcely said this, when father with the 
Captain came along and told Ronymus to saddle the 
horses, and one for himself also; he shall ride after 
them. Ronymus shook his head, and father called 
very angrily : “Why stand you still there? Do what 
I have told you.” Ronymus didn’t stir himself from 
the spot. Father screamed at him, so that mother 


36 


brigitta: a tale 


from the window shouted out : “ Are you deaf? Hear 
you not what I command you?” 

“Certainly, I have already heard it, but I do it 
not. You for yourself don’t desire this, and behind 
him rides along the Devil, who is the Captain of the 
Devil’s body guard.” 

Father raised his fist against Ronymus, but the 
Captain held him by the arm. Ronymus called : “ You 
strike me. Captain, strike me; then in court it will 
appear who every one is.” 

The Captain laughed and spoke low to father, who 
now suddenly discharged Ronymus from service. 
When he now sat on the horse, he said further : “When 
I come home, and you are still there, I’ll pursue you 
with a whip, and with the dogs chase you away.” 

Father trotted away with the Captain ; it w’as a 
sight, as he sat on the horse. 

Ronymus took a seat on the water trough, and 
that is the only time in life when I have seen him 
weep. He then washed his hands and his eyes, and 
it was almost laughable, how he said to me : “ I wash 
my hands in innocence. Oh, Brigitta, you and your 
mother, you don’t deserve this distress, and your 
father also deserves it not.” 

I asked Ronymus if he has an expression from 
Schmaje. He hesitated, when I asked that, and con- 
fessed that he had heard from Schmaje, but also from 
others, who the Captain is. 

Ronymus went forth. My mother, who was not 
well and not able to go out of her room, called him 
back; but he didn’t go to her. He went straightw^ay 
forth, and had on a wheelbarrow his trunk with his 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


3T 


•effects. He didn’t give me his hand, and looked not 
back any more. 

In a few days after, in the middle of the week, 
came Uncle Donatus. Father was not at home, but 
mother said he may come at any hour, and uncle shall 
wait. He consented at once and went over the whole 
farm. When he again came to the room, he said : 
“ That appears bad out there ; indeed the servants 
are the boss.” Mother did not admit that; she was 
unwilling to let anything take from the respect of 
father. Uncle said he didn’t come in order to raise 
a disturbance. 

Uncle wished to go, and when he had his hand 
just on the door, father came. He gave his brother 
welcome, and asked how it happened that he came 
here in the middle of the week. Uncle spoke violently 
against the business and partnership with the Cap- 
tain. 

“Has Schmaje told you this?” 

“ He, too, and others also. Xander, you have never 
been crafty — ” 

“And because you are my brother I consider this 
good of you. Just now I do not need a guardian.” 
It was on the eve of there being a bad dispute. 

Mother — they saw it was severe on her — said to 
uncle. “ Brother-in-law, it is all right for you that 
you have come. But because my husband is now here 
I am allowed to say it, he has confided to me that he 
is intending to make himself free from the trade. And 
now it is all over, and peace, and no strife, between 
brothers. Now, stay here, Donatus, and eat with us.” 

Uncle then remained, and so far, all was well. 

Mother has exerted herself too severely; she 


38 


brigitta: a tale 


must lie down and not stand up longer. She has 
wished for Bonifacia, and she is also soon here. 
Mother has wished for father to take Konymus again 
into service. Father has consented, but it was already 
too late. Ronymus has indeed hired himself to Ulm 
as a coachman. Father was kind and-good to mother, 
and she has consoled him so much as she could. 

Once mother sent father and Bonifacia out of the 
room. I must alone stay with her. 

“Child,” she said, “I have still something on my 
heart. You have still the golden chain from him 
there .... received from the Captain ; but allow 
yourself never again during life to accept something 
from any man. And hold your father in honor. He 
is brave and thoroughly good ; the rascals have had 
an easy time with him. Jorns has meant it well ; he 
can not help it. Oh, our beautiful farm ! Our forest I 
Dear God ! I pray you only for our people. Dear 
God, take away from me only in the last minute the 
thought in respect to the Captain, that I may die 
without a curse on him.” Mother died easy. How 
•father and I wept, that I can not relate. 


TENTH CHAPTER. 

It appeared that the Captain had already lost his 
rank; but I must still persist in giving him his title. 
He has, since that ride with father, no more come to 
our farm. It seems he has taken the affair with 
Ronymus as a good opportunity in order to begin a 
quarrel with father ; there was, indeed, nothing more 
to take from us. How and why afterwards a great 
lawsuit arose out of that, that I don’t know and 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


39 


have never clearly understood. I have, of course, 
believed father, that he would win the suit ; of that 
there was really no doubt. Father was continually 
swearing at the Captain, and still has nothing more 
to do with him, for the Captain had sold his lawsuit 
to a stranger, and was with his wife in Paris or in 
Italy journeying. 

I had only continually to pacify father; he 
understood now not at all more why he engaged him- 
self in all this ; he had still property enough and 
only one lone child. He hoped in the meantime 
constantly that all- would be good again ; certainly, 
mother was not again to be resurrected. 

One day Schmaje came and said to father — a law- 
suit can even now be won, as well as lost; if he 
should lose, then have an auction before the door. 
Now your father is still master over everything, and 
for that reason he is willing with him to make a for- 
mal sale and buy all our personal property — the 
linen and the beds in the house and the cattle in the 
stall ; the purchase price shall stand at rest, and if 
the suit shall be gained, nothing shall be binding. 
One would still be a fool if he surrender to the 
creditor the property. 

“You have been defrauded, why will you be a 
simpleton?” concluded Schmaje. 

Father said : “ That would be amazing.” 

“ That’s not just, and you shall give me for it 
what you choose. I do it for the sake of your child 
and for the sake of your wife.” 

“Now it is enough,” said father; went to the 
door and opened it aside. “ Get ready, so you may 
come forth.” 


40 


brigitta: a tale 


“I go not,” said Schmaje. “I let myself not be 
separated from you. Your father down from heaven 
does not suffer this ; your father was a better man ; 
your brother, Donatus, is a better man ; certainly 
very hard hearted, but still good. ...” 

“ And on this account shall I be bad? No, no. If 
I get my property again I trust no one more, not even 
you, Schmaje. ...” 

“As far as I care, don’t trust me then, but trust 
me now. There stands your child, your only child, 
will you let it come to this, that — God save you — 
your only child standing before the door of strangers 
and — and I know not what, I will not say it. Child, 
you also already understand; help me, and help 
your father.” 

“ Better to die of hunger than to defraud,” I 
have then said. I know not whence these words 
came, but I have said it. 

Schmaje went away, and when we were alone, 
father sat a long time there silent and laid his fist on 
the table; at last he said: “The devil has divers 
messengers ; but the Lord God, also, he sends to me 
that one in order to say to me, You remain honorable 
and win your suit.” 

But it is yet to come otherwise ; the suit will be 
lost. Our farm will by the court be sold at auction ; 
the State has bought it, and it is reported, it will be 
made into a forest. 

The auction was pending before the door, and 
came within. Men from the court, men quite 
strangers, came on our farm and acted as if they 
were then at home and not we. One of the bank- 
rupt’s said in the sitting room to father: “Your 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


41 


soldier’s discharge no one can take away from you, 
you keep it ; and when they open my wardrobe, you 
say, ‘what is your own belongs to you.’ The neck- 
lace there stick in your pocket.” He gave me the 
golden chain with my name, and I suppose it burnt 
me in the hand, but still I put it in my pocket.” 

And again one day there were men and women 
out of the whole neighborhood and also from a dis- 
tance here then. In the room a man then put him- 
self behind the table, before him a light was burning, 
everything was dragged in, beds and linen, and were 
sold at auction, and by the auctioneer were knocked 
off with a hammer on the table. 

Bonafacia was coming from below and wished to 
take me along with her, but I went not away from 
father. I sat by him on the bench near the stove, 
and we saw it all. I passed my hands often over my 
eyes — it must still all be only a dream. But it is 
true, the strange people are there, our property be- 
longs to them, they carry it away with them and 
laugh thereat. When the pictures in memory of my 
dead brothers and sisters were taken down and the 
crier said, the pictures are worthless but for the 
frames, then I must have screamed out aloud. As 
no oije had bid for them but Bonafacia, the crier 
gave them to her, and she said that she would reserve 
them for me. 

Now was the soldier’s discharge of father’s taken 
down from the wall. The crier took the paper out 
and said : “ Xander, the discharge belongs to you, 
but the frame is part of the assets.” 

Then father stood up, took the writing in his 
hand, held it over the light, set it on fire, and said : 


42 


brigitta: a tale 


“There stands his name; so shall one burn the 
Captain.” Then father went out. I followed, and as 
I grasped him by the hand, he said: “It is well, it is 
right, we stay by each other.” 

We went no more into the house from out here 
until all the people were gone. Bonafacia came and 
invited us to go with her, but father said he goes to 
his brother’s in order, as a servant, to serve him ; he 
is still his brother and yonder his parental house ; 
surely Donatus ought to have come to take him away, 
but he is not allowed to be proud any more. Bona- 
facia must go home to her husband. I was with my 
father alone in our pillaged house — at home among 
strangers. 


ELEVENTH CHAPTER. 

It was getting late, we took each other by the 
hand and were going. I said to father, we must now 
be strong and firm and no more think of the past and 
look back. He gave me no answer and pressed only 
my hand, then he let me loose. 

The sun went down, the ravens flew out and 
croaked. “He allowed me to make no complaint,” 
said father. “ No one has a right to do that but you. 
Oh, I do not like it on your account, rather go beg- 
ging from house to house, and you can say — this is 
my father who was at one time a proud, rich farmer, 
and now is nothing more to be his but begging in the 
hand. Oh child, so old have I grown, so old, fifty 
years old was I, and then I have first learned that 
there are thoroughly bad men in the world.” 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


48 


I consoled father all I could. Father said only 
this : “ I smoke no more.” 

We went on, it was a long way to uncle’s. Sud- 
denly a sharp wind arose and father called : “ Wind, 
what do you wish from me? Seek the Captain, lift 
him from the ground, let him struggle, and then tear 
him into a thousand pieces.” 

The wind blew father’s hat from his head, and he 
laughed: “Take the head with it.” We hunted for 
the hat but found it not ; bareheaded father went 
along. He would not let me bind a cloth around his 
head. My heart trembled in my body, and I was glad 
when we at last saw a light at the house of uncle’s. 

We came opposite the house, the dogs barked, a 
window was raised, and uncle asked : “ Who is there?” 

“ It is I. I wish to go into my parental house.” 

“ Your parental house? It is no more yours. But 
come, for aught I care, only from below.” 

“You come down and take me.” 

“ There you can wait for a long time.” 

“ Come away, come away ...” said father to me, 
and drew me almost around. We again turned down 
the valley, and he also said : “ Say nothing, not a 
word. There, over yonder, lie my parents — as little 
as they arise out of their graves and come again into 
the house, so little I ever again tread over the 
threshold.” We walked and walked, and what kind 
of thoughts came to me ! It now occurred to me, 
deep down in misery it occurred to me now, how once 
I was called the princess of Wild Plum Farm — I 
hear the music at the wedding of my sister and the 
cavalier’s signal, and my sole wish now was only that 
I could at once take vengeance on my destroyer. 


44 


BRIGITTA : A TALE 


We came at last to our village, and there out of 
doors we sat until it was day. We counted the hours 
as they struck from the tower. There lay mother 
and sister in their graves. Thank God that they 
have not lived to see this misery. There in the houses 
now rest the people; there are so many prepared 
beds, the farmers’ wives are proud of them ; no one 
says, come in and warm yourself and rest. None 
think that there out of doors sit two lost and 
abandoned persons. Oh, the world is pitiless ! No, 
it has still given people who think of us. 

Father said : “ I am so cold, I wish I was entirely 
cold.” 

Then spoke a voice: “ Thank God, that I at last 
find you.” It was the Roadmaster, who, too, came 
down from the mountain in his old soldier cloak ; he 
quickly took the gentian bottle out of his pocket 
and said : “ There, drink ; and now one more draught. 
Bonifacia has allowed me no rest, I must before day 
go to you up there to Donatus and see how it goes 
with you. Indeed, I may not be permitted by Donatus 
to be . . . But come along home.” 

We are going with the Roadmaster. Oh, dear 
God! There is still a place of refuge in the world; 
good people and warm rooms. The Roadmaster and 
Bonifacia took us up as if we were still the dis- 
tinguished people of former days ; only a visit of 
ceremony. Bonifacia made a morning soup and let 
me help her ; she covered the table with a fresh cloth, 
handed to father the only straw chair there that was 
in the room ; it had become to him unpleasant to 
allow himself to take the soup of the humble people ; 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 45 

but he constrained himself and ate, and when the first 
spoon of soup was taken there fell a tear. . . . 

This was the last time that he wept, from then and 
never more. When he had eaten, he wished to tell of 
his brother Donatus ; the Roadmaster supposed he 
should wait there, but father yielded not after, and 
asked at the conclusion : “ Road master, what say you 
to that?” The Roadmaster shrugged his shoulders 
and said : “ Yes, that is not right, but you have still 
shown your brother a bad man. It is for an honor- 
able proud farmer nothing little that he has a brother 
who, speaking in moderation, has managed his affairs 
badly.” . . . 

• Father sighed: “Yes, yes, I must now let me 
from each give a good lesson. From you I learn it 
patiently. You think it good.” 

Father wished, under present circumstances, to be 
even with the Roadmaster and help to break rock ; 
the Roadmaster again forbade and said, father shall 
still remember himself. As father said, he has re- 
membered himself, he stands by it. Then the Road- 
master shook his head : “ Do it not, now not yet, and 
I have a particular reason. Do you know what is 
the worst thing, when a person comes to poverty?” 
“A bad conscience.” 

“ I have thought something else — illness in addi- 
tion to poverty. I mean that. Don’t allow yourself 
to become sick, you must now keep well. Go to bed» 
and afterwards do what you purpose.” 

Over the face of father there went as it were a 
bright sunbeam. He allowed himself to be brought 
by the Roadmaster to bed like a small child, and 
soon came the Roadmaster into the room and said : 


46 


brigitta: a tale 


“ He sleeps.” He went to his business and took the 
Overseer along, who also lived in the house and was 
always wishing to play the clarionet. 

I searched in my pockets ; true, it is so, I had lost 
the chain that the Captain gave me. I am positive 
I had put it in my pocket ; I have lost it, when I had 
wished to tie a cloth around father’s head. It was 
so good. I should have no remembrance of the Cap- 
tain. I wish we could forget him entirely. 

At noon father awoke and was quite refreshed ; 
he allowed himself to be given a cap by the Road- 
master, and a heavy hammer, and went with him out 
on the street and helped him break rock. In the eve- 
ning father asked : “ Roadmaster, tell me all; what 
the people say and think of me?” 

“ What does that matter to you? And what the 
other people say and think, I know not. Be now not 
sore distressed at God’s will.” 

But you, what think you? Speak all, you mean 
it for good, from you I learn to be patient.” 

“ I know not whether it would help you. Tell me 
first to whom do you give the real blame? To your- 
self, or another?” 

“ Both.” “ It is just so. Of course you attribute 
to yourself only the smaller part. I don’t say that 
you have been simple — on the contrary, too artful. 
Yes, in one word, the worst devil of all is called un- 
reasonableness. There sits the farmer on his domain 
like a king and makes business, and why? He has 
the beautiful country seat of his wife and he is proud, 
he wishes out of it himself to earn just as much in 
addition. He has for a long time not confessed that 
to himself, until a crafty fellow comes and tells him 


•BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 47 

that, and it is as if he had been awakened out of a 
sleep.” 

“ Thus it is,” spoke father, “ whence do you know 
all these things?” “Whence? The birds on the 
street piped it to me. From that time on it has been 
called by you : Gather in, bring home, gain profit. 
You had supposed no one could twist you over his 
thumb ; you have not been stupid, only just not sharp 
enough for your comrades, particularly the Captain.” 

On the street, where father with the coach had 
driven along, and where our eight horses had hauled 
wood, there has father now broken rock. At first he 
surely confessed to me he didn’t believe that his 
brother there would desert him, and also the other 
large farmers would not do that ; they would certainly 
come and bring him away and again help him up. 
When day after day passed and no one came, then he 
said, it is now immaterial; he is only glad that he 
can still work so much as to furnish plenty to eat for 
them. It is again come still hard for him to live in 
poverty. Sunday was always a grief to him, then he 
must sit in the church, and it was not allowed him 
to more sit on the aldermen’s bench ; he stood just by 
the poor people. When I at one time went home with 
him — we were now at home in the Roadmaster’s small 
house — he said : “ That shall not be, that there is in 
the church a place of honor ; before God we are all 
equal.” 

I helped father also break rock, but after a few 
days he permitted it no more; I didn’t allow him to 
lie under the disgrace that he couldn’t support any 
longer his only child. 


48 


brigitta: a tale 


TWELFTH CHAPTER. 

Bonifacia made everything quite orderly. I had 
earned so much that we bought in partnership a goat 
and five hens, and we also owned jointly three geese. 
And would one believe it? When the men worked 
out of doors and we were done in the house and sat 
by each other in the room, then have we sung as if 
everything in the world was gay and in order. 

I brought it about, that my father again smoked 
to please me, and we were satisfied ; I must always 
make my dresses longer, for in two years at the 
Roadmaster’s I am grown so tall ; until then I was 
small. 

In winter of an evening father, with the Road- 
master, made shingles. At one time he raised the 
knife on high and suddenly said : “This I wish to 
thrust in the breast of the Captain and twist it seven 
times.” We were badly frightened. Father still 
thinks thus of the Captain. But we have said noth- 
ing more and father also nothing. 

One day Ronymus came home on a day furlough, 
he was a soldier. My father at first gave him his 
hand and said that he at that time did right to say 
that to the Captain. 

Ronymus was very respectful’ towards father, and 
he saw from my looks how I thanked him for it ; but 
he couldn’t have been more surprised, how I had 
grown almost taller than he. “ You are just the 
great farmer’s daughter,” he said; that was all. 

Father was once out on the street, distant a good 
way from the Roadmaster’s ; he struck a stone with 
the large hammer ; then old brown smoked timbers 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


49 


were hauled by. Father asked whence they came. 
He heard that they yesterday had torn down the 
barn and to-day would tear down the house on the 
Wild Plum Farm. 

What has come over father, who can know it? 
He threw the large hammer in the middle of the 
street and ran away to the Wild Plum Farm. 

Father came quite to our house, as the fire hook 
was placed at the front gable ; he sprang through 
under the fire hook, seized the post of the door of the 
house and screamed : “ My house 1 my farm ! my wife ! 
Captain.” . . . 

The men threw the hook away and started toward 
father, but it was too late, the gable fell in, it 
crashed, there the last scream, and the men screamed 
also — then all was still, only further a beam rolled 
over him the other way. 

Father was dead. . . . 

I have survived it. What all can not one survive? 

But I can’t tell, how it affected me, when they 
brought father away on a wood cart. On his head lay 
an empty sack, on it was the name of father. I 
wanted to take away the sack, the people held me off 
and said that I was not allowed to see, that his face 
was terribly disfigured. 

The second day after the funeral, about noon, I 
became suddenly so weary that I scarcely could drag 
myself to bed. Bonifacia took me up, as a little 
child, and lifted me into bed, and there have I slept, 
as Bonifacia said, without turning myself, from noon 
on till next morning in one stretch. 

Bonifacia did not go away from my bed. 

D 


50 


brigitta: a tale 


I have awakened, and when I saw the clothing of 
my father hanging on the wall, then started at last 
the tears forth, and Bonifacia said : “ Yes, only weep. 
Thank God that you can weep, now all will be well 
again.” Bonifacia wiped my tears dry, but they 
flowed continually, as if they wished not at all to 
cease. When I at last said I have such severe 
hunger, then she was full of rapture. 

I stood up, I dressed myself fresh. I ate and 
drank, and from that time on it is the first that has 
rightly came over me. I myself must keep up my 
courage bravely, I must not pine away my life, who 
knows what may yet happen to me. Yes, from every 
hour on I have gained a new vital energy and never 
again lost it, except in one single instance, and that 
has also passed by. 

THIRTEENTH CHAPTER. 

My stay with the Roadmaster was no longer. 

Out of doors in the world something awaits me — 
what it is, I do not know, but I must be gone. I 
listened to no one more, and have nothing besides 
but myself alone. 

This was my thought for many days, and often I 
have spoken it aloud before me that way, so that 
Bonifacia asked me : “With whom are you talking?” 
I wished to be gone and yet did not get away ; it was 
as if one wakes up in the morning and says, you 
must get up, and still remains lying down. There 
must something happen that will pull me out. 

The landlord of the lonesome public house over 
there appeared one day and asked, if I didn’t wish to 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


51 


step into service with him ; with a half laugh and half 
cry he said, his wife would soon die and then I could 
become the landlady. What I thereupon have said, 
I do not know further. But when the landlord was 
gone, Bonifacia said : “ You can again bravely knock 
them loose. This I have not at all known of you.” 

The departure from the Road master’s small house 
hasn’t been easy to me. Bonifacia gave me, a part 
of the way, her company, and out on the street the 
Roadmaster reached me his hand and said : “ Ask you, 
only quite without shyness, at the barracks for Rony- 
mus, he can assist you in many things.” He led not 
further on; we went forward and heard him soon 
again breaking rock. We ascended the mountain and 
Bonifacia said: “ Go now not to the graveyard, you 
can’t help the dead by it, and you need now your 
strength. Still pray for them, I do it also.” We 
went on still farther, and above at the forest 
Bonifacia took my hand in both of her hands, and 
with sobbing, uttered these words : “The storm of 
misfortune has abated, it will yet go well with you. 
Trust you to that and believe always. You have, if 
all else fails, still a house with us. And so long as I 
live, and my husband, we hold the grave of your 
people in honor, and your part in the goat and in the 
geese and hens you can have when you wish. God 
preserve you and keep you in honor.” 

She turned around, remained standing, and called 
once more: “Give my respects also to Ronymus.” 
Give my respects to Ronymus 1 That was the last 
that I at that time have heard from Bonifacia, and 
without wishing it, the words formed themselves' 
into a melody, and yet I wished not at all to sing. 


52 


brigitta: a tale 


I travelled farther on, I saw nothing of the forest 
and field, it swam before my eyes. On a rock I set 
myself down, I was so tired, as if I had already gone 
an hour’s distance. I ate the last piece of bread that 
Bonifacia had put in my pocket. I have from here 
looked down on our village. I should like to have 
gone down there and said to all the people : Do you 
know it then, truly, that we are not lost children? . . . 
But what good would that do? They say, yes, they 
know it ; I have thought this also before, but now for 
the first time experienced it, as certainly as that now 
it is day, and that has not forsaken me and will not 
forsake me. 

As I thus walked along, before me I heard a wood 
cart, the wagon came nearer, the driver was Joe, with 
his red vest and his red face ; the horses to the wagon 
had been ours, the brown timbers were loaded from 
our house. 

Joe called me, with my bundle in my hand, to get 
in. On the beam from our house I rode to the city. 

Joe talked little, and that was direct to me, only 
once he said : “ The farm has been a forest once and 
will be a forest again.” Over there before the bridge, 
Joe had unloaded. I stepped down and went to the 
city. There went the people to and fro, each one 
knowing to what place. I did not. I went into the 
cathedral, there was I at home like all the others — 
that belongs to no one, and there could no one put 
me out. I have there a long time quietly kneeled 
and sat. I had no prayer-book by me. I didn’t need 
it, it was all in my heart. I came out of the church. 
I was so out of the world out of doors that it appeared 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 53 

wonderful to me how there the women at the weekly- 
market sit and offer whatever was for sale. 

A heavy wagon with corn sacks came fr')m the 
warehouse to this side. Who is the man that ap- 
proaches beside the vehicle? Indeed he it is — it is 
my brother-in-law, the husband of my sister. I 
called him ; he stood still and looked about him. I 
beckoned to him and sprang away over the baskets, 
and now I stood by him and he gave me his hand. 

FOURTEENTH CHAPTER. 

“ If I had been able to meet with you a hundred 
times I had never known you, you are so entirely 
different, so large and so . . . but new eyes you still 
have not gotten, and I mean you have never had 
such eyes.” 

So said the brother-in-law and can not at all 
recover himself from his surprise. He had always 
been a good, honest man; for that which has hap- 
pened afterwards he is not to blame, he has meant it 
for good. 

I now asked, naturally, at first after my sister’s 
child, Agnes. The brother-in-law must have seen 
in my looks how pleased I was that I still had a 
relative. 

He said: “Tell me nothing more, I know it all. 
Shake hands and go with me. My wife — you will 
indeed see her yourself. She is kind — she has even 
said, when we have heard the misfortune, you shall 
take your sister-in-law now to us at home ; you go 
also along?” 

Yes I Oh how glorious was that ! Already now 


54 


brigitta: a tale 


have I loved the wife, and I must say she has de- 
served it. 

In the public house, where I ate with my brother- 
in-law, he said: “ Brigitta, I have also a gold piece 
lost by your father — it is nothing to you ; he ha» 
been for all that a righteous man. Now be merry. 
It will please you to be with us, and Agnes has lost 
one mother and now she has the second. 

I have traveled with my brother-in-law, and on 
the way I have seen that the brother-in-law in Swit- 
zerland is entirely a different man, so bright and 
dextrous. 

We came to a field on the Rhine, and the wife, as 
she welcomed me, said: “You resemble your father 
in the face and in the posture, only you have differ- 
ent eyes;” — people have always had something to 
say about my eyes — ‘ ‘ your father was dear to us and 
worthy, he must have sorely suffered for that he had 
held himself for a man of business and yet he was 
not. But a straight fine man he was. 

Oh, then am I at home, there shall be no work 
too hard for me, where thus it will be said of my 
father. Besides she has not used many words, that 
is just the manner of the Swiss, but upright and 
good she has been, one day with another. 

When Agnes came home from school, the wife 
said to her : “ Give a hand shake, that is your aunt.” 

But the child is not coming to me, the wife will 
become cross over it, but I spoke to her quietly : 

“Take that not badly of the child. What 
good does it do such a child, if one says to it, that 
there is your aunt, do you love her? It will soon 
appear if I prove to her my love.” 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


55 


As I said that, the wife gave me again her hand, 
and said: “Indeed, it is so. The child will soon 
notice that you are related by blood.” 

The wife and I, we have become the best friends, 
from the first hour on. 

Two and one half years I have been at my brother- 
in-law’s, then I took employment, above there in 
Hayden, in the public house of the Freehold Inn. I 
have taken the management of the annex for the 
accommodation of guests, and have had all under me. 

FIFTEENTH CHAPTER. 

I was now a real servant for the first time, for at 
my brother-in-law’s I had also served well, but I was 
still the sister-in-law. I had many guests, individu- 
als and whole families; but it was said, that right 
living comes first when the great Berlin doctor 
arrives. A crowd of patients with sore eyes had 
settled themselves by us, in the village and far around 
in the neighborhood, and were waiting for him , 

He has come, and when I saw him for the first 
time, then have I discovered that was the luck that 
had hovered over me. I arranged for him a bouquet 
in his room. I had willingly strewn flowers for him 
wherever he goes. 

And thus as in the first minute, so it has con- 
tinued. He has certainly also perceived how I feel 
toward him. 

I brought him water, I had for him with pleasure 
washed the feet that carried him. 

“What is your name?” he asked me. Oh, what 
a voice he has ! 


56 


brigitta: a tale 


“ Brigitta,” I said, but they call me only Gitta, 
and I pray you to say Du (thou) . 

“ Are you a relative of the house?” 

“ No, I am from the black forest?” 

“ Have you still parents?” “ No.” 

“ Have you brothers and sisters?” “No.” 

I must look upon him only as he thus inquired. 
I suppose he must know all, that nothing be kept 
secret in the world. The doctor has a look, so sacredly 
sad, I can not describe it. Where he came, already 
was there healing with it, that he was present, and 
with his voice has he soothed pain ; the wildest and 
most impatient have become before him mild and 
gentle. 

From all quarters came pilgrims other than there 
over in Einsiedeln. There came men, women and 
children, poor and rich, to him all were alike. 

He was yet to come to us up there, in order to rest 
himself, but the people allowed such a man no rest. 
When he went walking, I have thanked God that he 
is yet allowed now to be himself once by himself ; 
but everywhere they have laid in wait for him and 
are running after him, and he never becomes in- 
dignant. 

And such a man must have also to die. 

There above in my room hangs his picture with 
his signature. Yes, but what will such a picture 
mean? The picture, and now even the tone of his 
voice, can no one bring out on paper. Among those 
who were waiting for the great doctor, was also an 
English woman from India, with a very beautiful 
child, named Seridja; she had golden red hair and a 
face like milk and blood, but was a genuine devil, she 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


57 


had her pleasure in worrying the people. The child 
was blind, and whoever came near her she abused; 
the mother has vexed her as a servant, and the 
servant as a dog. 

The doctor examined now for the first time Serid ja, 
and she has screamed and struck about herself as a 
demoniac ; she was the only one that did not grow 
quiet under his hand and before his voice. He has 
sent off the mother with the child and has said, be- 
fore a year there can nothing be done for her. 

I stood one day before the house, arranging 
the washing, and sang low before me, then some- 
thing alarmed me. I heard the doctor’s voice below 
there at the main building. I went on the veranda, 
there stood the doctor at a loaded wagon, and said : 
“ Have patience, Mr. Baron, there can’t be anything 
settled or attempted yet.” 

In the wagon sat a man and woman, who were 
they? The Captain and his wife. I must hold my- 
self on to the railing. The postillion blew, the wagon 
drove away, very near at passing me. I have not de- 
ceived myself, it is correct, it is the Captain and his 
wife. 

Dear God ! Do not afflict me in this way, that 
you send to me this man once more before my eyes. 

Thus have I before me thought of, and now I 
heard, the voice of Bonifacia. I supposed it was not 
true, but it is true. Bonifacia was there, with the 
Roadmaster, who had one eye bound up; it was for 
him a small fragment of stone driven into his eye, 
and he suffered great pain. I said to him, that if any 
one in the world can help him, it was the great doc- 
tor. Bonifacia said, that I mean Ronymus also. 


58 


brigitta: a tale 


Ronymus has served out his term as a soldier and 
is now a porter in Basle ; there the great doctor had 
been over night, and there has Ronymus sent home 
money; with it his father travelled here. “He is, 
indeed, a good child,” said Bonifacia, “ and how will 
he firstly enjoy himself, that we have met you here.” 

How we have enjoyed ourselves with one another, 
that I need not tell. It lightened my heart, that I 
had my dearest friends thus by, to whom I can re- 
port that I have seen the Captain, but by good for- 
tune for only a moment. 

SIXTEENTH CHAPTER. 

I went to the doctor and told him that my best 
friend from home was here and seeking a cure by 
him. 

The doctor declared himself now ready and said : 
“ I trust to you for the courage and the calmness to 
assist in the operation; will you be on hand?” 

I said yes, and bring the Roadmaster here. The 
doctor examined him and said: the operation will 
not be easy, but he has hope ; the Roadmaster shall 
rest himself till to-morrow, then he will undertake it, 
at eleven o’clock sharp. 

We missed, of course, not a second. A young 
doctor was also there as assistant. Of the prepara- 
tion I will not speak ; the Roadmaster was patient 
and submissive, and Bonifacia kneeled in one corner 
on the floor and prayed. The Roadmaster said, it is 
not necessary that they bind him in the chair, he 
would hold himself still ; but he let it also appear 
quiet, that they still bind him. 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 59 

The doctor was quite composed, but I saw from 
the assistant’s looks that it stood badly. 

The doctor cut, then must I quickly hand him 
another instrument, and now he called : “I have the 
splinter I” The Roadmaster wished to spring up, he 
cried out : “I see I ’ ’ But we held him, he must close 
his eye, and I helped to apply the bandage. How 
shone the face of the doctor. I must take Bonifacia 
out of the room, for she wept so loudly. I came 
again into the room and the doctor handed me in a 
paper the small chip of stone, and said at the same 
time: “Preserve this in memory of your first help 
at an operation. I hope you’ll remain here. You 
have a firm, safe hand.” I must have restrained 
myself that I didn’t shout for joy. I — I allowed to 
help — to heal the sick. 

Bonifacia asked me to give her the chip of stone. 
Ronymus must set it in gold to keep for remem- 
brance. I gave her the chip of stone, and I believe 
the doctor will say that is right. 

In the house and in the village there was united 
great joy by all the sufferers over the wonderful cure 
of the Roadmaster. Bonifacia told it to everyone 
who wished to hear it. The Roadmaster remained 
yet three days with us. The doctor taught me to 
apply and take off bandages, and when he said, I do 
it right — if our Lord God from heaven were to come 
down and had praised me, I could not have been 
happier. 

The Roadmaster and Bonifacia must have told 
the doctor of what family I came, for he said to me : 
“ I have been able to think that you are descended 
out of an honest house and from righteous parents.’^ 


60 


brigitta: a tale 


After the cure of the Roadmaster I was at each 
operation and kept everything in good preparation. 

One day a pupil of the doctor came from Zurich, 
to assist at an operation, and made himself also such 
a one for the satisfaction of his teacher, who held 
him very dear. 

The doctor once said in my presence : “ Dear Col- 
league, Brigitta is a good assistant, her charities are 
to be valued on the line in addition. You shall take 
her to your institute.” 

The Zurich Professor asked if I was willing to go. 
I accepted, but not until autumn, when we had no 
guests more. And so I am in the fall away from 
Hayden and to the Professor at Zurich. 


SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER. 

The way the Professor introduced me as his wife 
and servant of the people, shows how he considered 
me. He has trusted everything to me, and I have 
not abused his confidence, till at one time. 

One special pleasure was mine, that the dog in 
the house — I will yet have much to say of him, his 
name is Rack — so considered himself equal to me 
from the first minute on. At the beginning it was 
to me as if I were enchanted in a subterranean cas- 
tle, as one appears in the fable. There are so many 
people and so charmed, they are not able themselves 
to do the smallest thing ; there are so many dark 
rooms, that one thinks the whole world is sick. 

But I have yet found myself quickly therein, and 
the patients were pleased to have me. 

When in the morning I looked out of the window, 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


61 


before me was lying the lake, there stood the Alps, so 
broad and so grand, and the small globe — the eye 
that can take in all, mountains and valleys, that are 
still a million times larger — then have I first rightly 
understood, when the sick solemnly Vow, never more 
to complain ovei anything, if they only for the first 
time again have sound eyes. 

Every morning have I thanked God that I have 
my sound limbs and my good eyes, with these I can 
stand by the rest. 

I am allowed to say I have never grown impatient 
or very bad, except this one time, I must indeed yet 
speak of it ; the patients have felt well, as I am to 
them not always alike, each one just after his under- 
standing, and many have done more for me than I 
for them. 

One day our Professor said to me, I must for one 
time leave the institution, the English woman from 
India, whom I have already seen at Hayden, was 
coming with her child ; that the child had been badly 
operated on and was still worse than ever. The 
operation will be performed not in the house, but in 
the Hotel Bauer at the lake ; and the period of heal- 
ing must be watched over there. I went not willingly 
away from the house. I could for myself not at all 
think that I ever shall be away from there ; but I am 
only a soldier, who will be sent out to his post. I 
drifted also down to the hotel, and who stood below 
the yard gate and had a large green apron on? 
Ronymus. He winked at me only with his eyes, fur- 
ther he gave no sign that he knew me. 

The English lady lives high above, I was already 
announced. 


62 


brigitta: a tale 


Ronymus shoved one other porter away, took my 
trunk on his shoulder, dragged it to the elevator, with 
it one drove off, and said: “You only step herein.” 

I followed him, he stepped in too, the machine 
gurgled, it went to the top ; in the small room, he 
stepped out, struck a light as at night. It was to me 
as if I was enchanted. 

“ Have you known me at once,” asked Ronymus. 

“ Yes.” “ But we will before the people not let 
it be known that we know each other. Say, have you 
known that I was here?” 

“No.” “ But I knew that you were here; I have 

written it to my parents. I was aware of it already 
for a long time, but I have wished not to bring you 
into any inconvenience. Shall I say that I have been 
a servant of your father? I have feared I betray 
myself ; I should say, I betray you — ” 

The good man can no further, and it went like a 
flash of lightning through all my limbs : Ronymus 
has liked you. 

No, the faithful soul shall not be unhappy 
through me. 

I believe that yet, though in addition to the yeo- 
man’s pride I was also accustomed to finer things. 

I said: “ I am willingly in the institution, and 
I remain there my life long.” 

“Yes, yes,” he said, “I will also say to you fur-^ 
ther, I know what you have done for my mother and 
father. Your shoes, I didn’t let my porter clean 
them, I cleaned them for you every day myself ; I 
am willing for you to put my hands under your feet. 
Be not so astonished at me. Be joyful, you have a 
man about you. ... Be still I there comes somebody. 


BY BERTHOID AUERBACH. 


63 


. . . Have you any further orders?” He closed sud- 
denly with quite a different tone, the rascal. 

Our Professor came and Ronymus went away. 
The Professor must still have noticed something, for 
he said: “ Gitta, you appear so perplexed. Is it so 
severe to you out of the institute to go away? Be 
only quiet, it will indeed please you, and you have 
here much more spare time. But I wish to-day not 
to have you as assistant. Let’s feel your pulse once. 
Indeed, you have a fever.” 

Our Professor declared to me now, I had a pecu- 
liarly hard task, to make the redhaired child quiet; 
that she is a little devil, whom we indeed chloroform, 
but in this excitement can not cure. “You know, 
of course, Seridja of Hayden still here.” 

The Professor took me now to the child, and said ; 
“ Here, Seridja, here have I brought you a good 
friend.” 

As I came near the child it screamed, as if it 
stuck on a spear, and as I bent myself low down, it 
wished to pull my hair, and struck me with both 
fists in the face. 

“ Come, now, child, you haven’t wished to strike 
me?” I said. “Come, now, have you severe pains, 
that make you so bad? You have wished to strike 
the pains.” 

As I said that, the child screamed: “ Go away, 
go away. I wish you not. No, stay there, stay now. 
What is your name, then?” “ Gitta.” 

“ Gitta I Gitta I Gitta I That is droll. Come, give 
me your hand. I do nothing to you; indeed my 
pains are bad, so bad.” 

I gave it my hand and it caressed it. 


64 


. BRIGITTA : A TALE 


The mother and the Professor looked at each 
other, and what they thought, I also think : the child 
is conquered, that I gained by the hand. 

EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER. 

We Avere able to chloroform Seridja, and the 
operation went easy and regular. When she again 
awoke, I requested her not to talk and not to exer- 
cise herself.” 

I had only to do this in order to quiet the mother ; 
she was quite outside of herself, and had fear, and 
wished to bring the child to speech. All has be- 
come right. 

The child Avas so changed, and has helped me to 
quiet mother, who AAUshed always to kiss and hug it. 
She Avept for joy, and I had the greatest fnar that 
she make the child also Aveep; but it held itself 
brave. 

We accustomed the child gradually to the light, 
and the tears have come in my eyes when the child 
said: “I see you, mother; I see you, Gitta.” 

We are alloAved for the first time to go out Avith 
each other to the lake. It was a cloudy day ; no sun 
in the sky. Seridja kissed her hand to me, then she 
said : “ Look, how Rack enjoys himself ; he wishes 
certainly also Avith pleasufe, to tell how he enjoys 
himself, that I can see. Oh ! the trees, and the 
Avater, and the people, and the houses, and the 
ships ...” 

I have Seridja naturally repressed so much as 
possible. She Avas also still, but after a mile, she 
called again : “ Oh, so broad I so broad ! How is the 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


65 


world so broad and the sky so high ! But I guess I 
can touch it.” 

I am back again in the institute. 

The mother and Seridja soon left the hotel, and 
are living modestly in a country home at the lake. 
They are waiting for the father, who shall come from 
India; they wait for a long time in vain, also the 
remittance didn’t come. 

Ronymus was now the protector of the mother 
and daughter, and stood by them in every way ; he 
has indeed had a profit thereby. One day he came 
to me and said: “ The English lady has given me a 
present that I shall pledge in the pawn office. I 
go also to that place and inquire what it is worth ; 
it is worth much, nothing so much in all Switzerland. 
The pawn office advances only the third of the value 
of the pledge. I think you can do that too, and if 
the pledge is not redeemed, you have threefold value 
and high interest in each case.” 

I must confess I had satisfaction in Ronymus ; he 
was more than I have supposed ; but I wished to 
know nothing more of money making. I have suffered 
enough of that. 

The father has come from India and has departed 
with his wife and daughter. Ronymus came and 
reported to me what a fortune he has made ; the 
Englishman has paid him all cash and given a good 
piece of gold in addition. 

“ Really,” he said, and looked at me so curiously 
at that. “Truly, I must deliver to you half, for 
that I have become so well acquainted with the Eng- 
lish lady, I thank you. But suppose we let the two 


E 


66 


brigitta: a tale 


halves be together and have them in partnership?” 

I understood well what he meant, but I said noth- 
ing further. 

A few days after that I met Ronymus, and he 
said to me: “The money now will soon suffice. I 
carry on business here not very long. Schmaje is 
looking for us a suitable public house, with fields and 
pastures, and also a bit of forest in addition. There 
we have then everything.” “Who is we?” 

Ronymus looked at the floor and breathed hard, 
then he said: “Ha, my father and I. Alas, alas! 
my mother has not lived to see it more — ” 

He soon stopped ; he noticed how it hurt me, that 
I now thus came to know this, then he said: “She 
died easy, and yet in the last hour she has thought 
of you; but I can not now tell it to you.” 

I went home to our institute ; to me the road up 
the mountain was never yet so severe as this ; it can 
be well that I, in advance, have experienced what just 
now happened. 

Also Bonifacia, the faithful soul, dead 1 How 
lives the Roadmaster, and how does it appear there 
in the small house? As I thus think, I see the 
leaves falling from the trees, and each fall day, when 
I for the first time met with Captain, is brought to 
my remembrance. Why comes this ever again? . . . 

We had also a famous Professor of Astronomy, 
who, in his vocation, had injured his eye-sight. 
He was in my especial care, and our Professor said, 
he will be cured. He was a very dear, patient old 
gentleman ; he received many visitors from all around 
here, all fine men and women, and all thanked me 
for my good nursing. 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. • 67 

Oh, dear Grod ! There are so many good people in 
the world — why has such a thoroughly bad man come 
to my parents on the farm and must destroy us? 

The Astronomer has been discharged cured. One 
enjoys himself, however, when the sick leave us well, 
but the departure of such good, fine men, still pains us. 

The room of the astronomer will be arranged new, 
and yet it will take two in addition ; it is said, we get 
a famous and exacting patient, and I was to be as- 
signed, to his especial service. 

Why was it now so dreadful to me? 

What has tortured me as a bad omen, has become 
true. The Captain has come. 


NINETEENTH CHAPTER. 

At noon a carriage drove up in front. I looked 
out the window; a large portly man was lifted out of 
the carriage. I suppose I must rush out of the 
window. I mean, I must fall backward! Oh, dear 
God 1 That is indeed the Captain I And him shall 
I take care of and serve him? No, that I’ll not do. 
I stay not in the house with that man, I remain not 
under the same roof. 

He will be carried up ; he walks about heavily in 
the next room. I hear his voice. I have not deceived 
myself, it is he. 

Our Professor opened the middle door and said to 
me : “ Come in here.” I know not, whence I had the 
strength to go into another room. There sat the 
Captain with bandaged eyes, in an easy chair, and 
had his hands folded on each other. 

The Professor said : “ This is your new patient. I 


68 


brigitta: a tale 


know you are forbearing; be very particular with 
this gentleman.” 

I could not at once bring forth a yes, it strangled 
me. 

The Captain asked : “ What is the name?” 

I didn’t speak out the name, and the Professor 
said : “ She will be called Gitta. Why are you so 
staring? You are yet besides — ” 

The Captain interrupted him and asked : ‘‘Is she 
old or young?” “Young.” “ Where does she stand?” 

I could not from the place. The Professor said to 
me: “ Why are you suddenly so childish?” 

Childish, he said — I suppose I must scream out 
and say: I am the child of him who, through this 
man, was ruined and chased to his death. 

But I spoke no word out, and the Captain said : 
“ Step nearer! Come here 1” 

It sounded haughtily; he took off his glove, 
stretched out his hand, and the Professor conveyed 
me on his arm to him. 

I must give the robber, the murderer, my hand. 
He said : “ Why do you tremble? You have nothing 
to fear from me — I am a poor, forsaken blind man.” 

Thereat he sobbed, until his heart seemed break- 
ing. I had no sympathy for him, doubling up for 
me both hands themselves, I had willingly still with 
both fists struck him on the breast and at the same 
time called to him : You robber of my father? You 
murderer of my father I 

The new assistant came near ; he had only recently 
come to us ; he had been a military physician in 
Germany. Both the i^hysicians sent me away; they 
now again took up an examination. 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


69 


There now I stood outside on the floor, and the 
thought again came to me, I stay in the house not an 
hour longer, I can not. I say to our Professor, Why 
must 1 go away? And he shall not cure the disfigured 
man, who shall see no more trees, no flowers, no 
human face ; blind shall they bury him alive in the 
grave. . . . 

Our Professor came out and said to me: “ Your 
new patient is just the opposite of the Astronomer, 
who was pure good-heartedness; this one is full of 
spite and venom at the world, because this suffering 
has come over him. 

Yes, child, we are not allowed to ask, whether 
one is good or bad ; we only know he is sick, and we 
must help as much as we can. Your new patient is 
wicked, so must he be treated just so much the more 
good naturedly ; I have that confidence in you, that 
you can do it.” 

He went with the assistant down stairs, and I 
heard further how the assistant said: “Don’t men- 
tion to this man my name. I know him of old.” 
“ So? Then you must tell me of him. He was noto- 
riously an outrageous man, I have also come to know 
that myself. I have really wished not to take him 
into the house, and yet I have done it.” 

He named in Latin a disease. The steps kept 
back the two men. I stood on the balustrade, and 
must hold myself fast to it, I was so giddy. Now 
again came over me: One can not constrain himself 
to love his enemy, but one can compel himself to help 
him and to do good to him. This must I. This can I. 
This will I do. 

I went in the room, the Captain stood at the win- 


70 


brigitta: a tale 


dow, he turned himself around and asked: “ Is that 
you, Schaller?” My heart trembled. Does Schaller 
thus come too? He will know me. I said that it is 
I, and he replied: “ Go! No, stay. Say, what does 
one see out of the window here?” I said that at this 
window stands a high forest, there one sees not much, 
but from the other window one views the lake and 
the Alps. 

“ You have a singular voice,” he said. “ Are you 
a Swiss?” 

He waited not till I could answer, and asked again : 
“ Whence comes this music that one now hears?” 

“ From the steamer on the lake. The wind often 
carries the sound here from below.” “ So? Tho 
world is merry. They ride with music on the lake. 
Now go. Only this yet : Betray me not. I notice 
everything. Now go.” 

I went into an adjoining room and was glad that 
I could seat myself. 

Must I not tell the Professor what the Captain 
has done to us at home? No, I endure it better still 
. . . But to Bonymus must I still say, what has been 
enjoined on me? No, not even to him. I will keep 
it all to myself. . . . 

The Captain whistled in the next room, he whis- 
tled most beautifully a whole piece of music. 

I stood in another room at the window and looked 
out. There was the sky, and earth, and water, like 
pure red gold. I turned myself back, I know not why. 

There hung on the wall the picture of the great 
doctor of Berlin, and I must think: Oh, thou! per- 
haps thou hast also once an enemy to you, certainly 
have you also cured bad men. You have wished 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 7l 

nothing but to help. I can not do what you can, but 
what I am able to do, that I will do. 

As I thus thought this, it appeared to me as if he 
smiled on me. Indeed, it was marvellous. The next 
day our Professor told me he had received the news 
that yesterday evening at sunset the great doc- 
tor of Berlin had died. And at the same hour I had 
thought of him, and he must have been, in the dying 
hour, impressed by the many people he had restored 
to health. 


TWENTIETH CHAPTER. 

The next day the Captain was changed and so was 
I. When I, at awakening, thought thereon whom I 
have to take care of, I again thought, I can not do it 
and am not allowed to ; I can also be no faithful nurse 
of a man whom I cursed into the ground and earth. 
I have until now done my duty, now must I become 
unfaithful to my duty. I must say this to the Pro- 
fessor. And again I thought, what does it concern 
you, who the sick one is? And he is truly punished ; 
one must still have pity on him, and he is indeed 
doubly wretched, blind with a bad conscience. 

The Captain called me and asked if it was already 
day, and then he said he had been bad and impetuous 
yesterday ; one should not blame him for it, he suf- 
fered sharp pains, and besides such that one can cure 
with no instruments, however fine. 

It stands truly written : Love your enemy ! But 
that one cannot ; let no one say to me that a person 
can do that, the verse must not be so understood. 


72 


brigitta: a tale 


Do good to your enemy, one can do that, but no one 
shall tell me that that is easy. 

If your enemy is destitute give him money and 
help him on, that you can. You give of your prop- 
erty here and remain for yourself what you are. But 
watch every hour, have patience, and kindly exhort 
and comfort; I know what that is, and who has not 
proved it himself, knows it not and is not allowed to 
speak thereof. 

Indeed, I have experienced it, that I become un- 
faithful and must have, as they say, taken my heart 
in both hands in order to come again to myself and 
in order not to fly out against the destroyer of my 
father and myself. But now I have still wished to 
say to the Professor, I can not nurse this man. 

I stood already before the door of the Professor, 
there I stood still and said to myself : No, I know 
myself, what I will and what I must, and I will 
prove it. 

I turned back and did my duty. And I have done 
my duty as if this were a man of whom I know 
nothing further than that he is sick. I have done my 
duty to the end — no, only till one step before the 
end. It grows hard on me, but I must tell all. . . . 

The Captain wished to know of the Professor if 
the cure be certain. He asked very often. The Profes- 
sor again said: “Ask you nothing further. What I 
have to say to you, I will indeed bring forward before 
yourself; and you are truly a man — ” 

“And a soldier, who looked danger in the face. I 
am strong. You promise me that you will not chlo- 
roform me.” 

That I’ll not do. I repeat again to you, the oper- 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


73 


ation is in my hands, the possible cure in yours. As 
long as you are so impetuous and excited, I’ll not 
operate on you. You must in advance learn to be 
quiet and patient, in order to practice it afterwards. 
So you show your courage by patience and sub- 
mission.” 

I had heard the Professor as yet with no patient 
speak so sharply as with the Captain. He has known 
why. One day I was called out on the vestibule, and 
who stood there and trembled in his whole body and 
could for a long time speak not a word? Ronymus. 

At last he said : “ I have learned that the Captain 
is here in your establishment. The Captain is bad, 
but there must have been, besides, one worse, in order 
to give him the reward. The wife whom God has 
sent — he can also send a devil — she has left him and 
has taken along much money, and is with one other 
away. And what still is this gaiety, he thinks still 
always of her and desires to have her again. I will 
’tell it only to you, when the Captain again comes 
out I will show him who I am.” 

“With. what?” “He must give up what he has 
robbed your father of, and you, the princess of the 
Wild Plum Farm, shall not be a domestic servant.” 
“ Leave that with the princess. Let you say in earn- 
est: when the Captain also delivers up all, can he 
make my father alive again?” 

‘ No, that he can not. But the money — ” 

“ To that one can not compel him.” “ May be, 
but you give me information when he goes away, and 
he shall then experience what these are able to do.” 
He doubled both fists, but he laughed when I ex- 


74 


bbigitta: a tale 


plained it to him and exacted of him this promise, 
to trouble himself no further about the Captain. 

“ Have you already seen him?” he asked me. I 
said quickly, I had speed. I could not now still say 
to Ronymus, that it was just laid om me, to care for 
the wretched. 

When I was again alone, I had the feeling as if 
some one held his hand over me, I am safe and 
sheltered, I have a man at the post, whom I can call 
on as one’s own brother. 

I still had many here who were good to me, but 
such a faithful man among the youth, that is after 
all something else, there placed his love therein for 
everything connected with home. That I indeed at 
that time would have willingly had Ronymus, as a 
wife the husband, that I can not say. I see truly 
how it is in him, but in me it is not. When the 
Captain is again away, then I have overcome this 
difficulty, all else will become easy to me, and I re- 
main here all my life long. Ronymus, the good soul, 
will also become reconciled to it. It is hard, but it 
must be. 

TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER. 

The Captain has desired that they set the day for 
him, and the Professor has consented to it. When 
the Captain awoke early, he called me and asked : “ Is 
it already day?” “ It dawns.” 

“Also to-day it is decided whether I ever yet see 
day or whether everlasting night.” 

He wished to eat, and when I told him he is al- 
lowed to eat nothing in advance, he laughed out loud. 

“ So one must learn also to fast.” Then he lay 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


75 


over for a long time quiet, and at last he said, before 
himself: “ I have an easy conscience. . . . Why do 
you mean?” He screamed out suddenly. I had to 
suppress it, calling out to him: “You robber and 
murderer! How can you speak of a quiet con- 
science?” 

The Captain will go down, he lets everything 
happen to himself without a murmur. Our Professor 
has chloroformed him, and when I saw him lying 
there so lifeless, it touched me for all that ; but now 
one is allowed to think nothing of any one else, I 
must give everything in the hand and take out of 
the hand. 

“ When do you begin?” asked the Captain, with a 
weak voice. 

“It is over, and now only rest, perfect rest,” said 
the Professor to him. “Is Gitta here? Give me 
your hand, Gitta,” the Captain said, with a wonder- 
fully soft voice. I gave him my hand and can say, 
I have wished him with my whole heart a perfect 
cure. All hate and all anger had gone out of my 
soul. Yes, he shall receive his sight and again do 
good. Truly, he can never more bring my father 
back to life. But I now am not permittrd to think 
of that. 

The Captain now spoke with great gratitude 
thereof, how skilful and easy the doctor has done 
everything. I can talk to him in comparison of the 
great doctor of Berlin, from whom he has learned it. 

I, in my simplicity, told further of the great doc- 
tor, and unburdened my whole heart. In the midst 
of it I perceived that it was unpleasant to say this to 


76 


brigitta: a tale 


this man ; but I have still spoken out, as if it 
must be. 

In the midst of it I have also thought : when he 
hears what there is for a holy man, he will turn him- 
self about in his soul and go another way. 

It is always well if the first bandage can remain 
for a long time ; but now it must soon be taken off, 
and when the Professor did that, he said to me, I can 
hereafter do it indeed alone. He said this to me 
quite differently than before. 

One day, when I had just applied a fresh band- 
age, the house steward brought Schaller, and with 
him came also a discharged district forester. 

The Captain called to the district forester: “You 
go away 1 You smell of wine.” The Captain may 
not smell the wine, because he is not allowed to 
drink. Schaller laughed, seated himself in a large 
chair, unbuttoned his vest, and said: “Now, noble 
knight, am I not a capital fellow? Keep I not my 
word? Ha? What?” 

He attaches to everything a ha, a what, that one 
must answer him. The Captain requested Schaller, 
he might inquire of the Professor how it stands, for 
he himself says nothing to him. Schaller exhorted 
his companion to patience, and used words like a 
priest. 

Now Schaller told of the profit and loss and the 
pending law suit; then came anecdotes; these I 
didn’t understand, but they laughed with each other 
so immoderately that I must step near and say, that 
patients are not allowed to laugh so violently, that 
is very injurious, they must be more quiet. 

Who knows whether the pack of thieves have not 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


77 


yet discovered something as to who I am ; these two 
strangers noticed me so surprised, and the Captain 
said : “ Good, we will be more quiet. Yes, Schaller, 
be more quiet. Stay there, Gitta, we will be more 
quiet.” 

And then they talked with each other, I looked 
out to the heavens, and must think : Dear God, you 
must know why you let your sun shine also over these 
men, and you must know why you have given them 
understanding, that they can plunder their fellow 
men. 

I heard scarcely any more over there, and I shud- 
dered, as if I must be in hell by them, when the 
scoundrels told each other their bad deeds. 

I heard talk of Aussichtler, I came to know his 
history now exactly. 

The man who then made house clocks lived very 
happily on the lonely hill with his wonderfully beau- 
tiful wife. Schaller had waylaid his wife. The hus- 
band came up, as Schaller wished to embrace his wife, 
and husband and wife have given Schaller a good 
sound thrashing. 

But what did Schaller? He has said he will punish 
the husband, indeed, more severely than can all the 
Courts of Justice. He has sent, men and women — 
also the Captain has lent himself to it — they have 
humbugged the man ; his house has the most beau- 
tiful location in the whole country, the magnificent 
view, and the best atmosphere ; there must one build 
a castle. The simple man believed this, and has on 
that account become entirely foolish, and his wife has 
died in wretchedness. 

I must again look up to heaven. Why comes no 


78 


brigitta: a tale 


fiery punishment down from heaven to scourge these 
men? 

I wish to hear nothing more. But hush I Now 
they talk of my father. 

I still know that they have sent him to the earth, 
but how — then I came to know just how. 

They have first caught him with his soldier’s 
pride, and then they have persuaded him he was one 
of the most intelligent men — a sly, knowing fellow — 
and even this, that he acted so straight along, as if 
he were entirely simple, that would be the most in- 
telligent. Now have they let him make a special 
profit, then lose a good part thereof, then gain a still 
greater, and then have they had him fast. 

Alas ! why shall I tell this to everybody? I myself 
scarce know it further. Only this besides. 

It was so, as Schmaje had at that time said : Schal- 
ler had allowed himself to be cheated by father, and 
this had caught him. 

That they had ruined my father, is hard ; but 
that they have also brought him to cheating that is 
still the hardest. And the Captain laughed besides, 
over the stratagem. 

Now spoke the district forester : “ There shall 
truly still be a child of Xander there. Does one not 
know what will be the outcome to it?” 

Schaller said he has heard the girl is at her 
brother-in-law’s in Switzerland, and is said to have 
grown very lovely. 

“ When I am well again, I seek her out,” said the 
Captain. 

The men are gone away. Now it is enough, I can 
nothing further. 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


79 


I was firmly resolved, I remain not a minute 
longer by the Captain, I go to the Professor and tell 
him all. 

As I stopped still, and thus so thought, the Cap- 
tain called pitiably with all his might after me. 

I can not otherwise, I go in. 

TWENTY-SECOND CHAPTER. 

The Captain stands erect in the middle of the 
room and screamed : “ Gritta ! Gitta I where are you?” 
“I am here.” 

“ It sticks like a thousand needles. Hurry, loosen 
for me the bandage.” 

He seated himself. I stand before him. I can ’ 
no word bring forth, it chokes me in the throat, but 
I loosen the bandage, and he says : “ When I am well 
you get a large present from me.” “ I accept nothing 
from you, certainly not from you.” 

“ From me not? Why not? Not from me?” 

“ My mother in heaven has had it right, a person 
can choke one with a golden chain.” “ What say 
you? What shall this be called?” 

“ I will say it to you, I am the daughter of 
Xander.” 

I held the bandage in my hand ; he screamed and 
struck at me viciously; I screamed, and the dog 
plunged at the Captain fiercely. I tore the bandage 
from him : “ There, see me, me first.” 

He screamed: “Blind!, Blind! Xander!” and 
fell on the floor. 

I let him lie and ran off, whither I do not know. 


80 


brigitta: a tale 


I heard still behind me screaming — “Xanderl 
Xander I” 

I ran down stairs and concealed myself first in 
the wood shed. Whither will I? I know not. “ Blind ! 
Blind! Xander! Xander!” it cried out of every stone 
in the wall. What is to happen? What have I done! 
I have taken revenge, I have blinded the enemy. I 
lie on my knees, and it is to me as if I were hurled 
into a deep ravine, and below me the water utters a 
gurgling sound, and the rocks above me begin to 
roll. 

I hear running and calling in the house. Yes, it 
is all over with me. Effaced are all the charitable 
deeds of many years. I have done worse than mur- 
der. I am allowed to live no more. I knew the way 
out from the wood shed on the street. I pulled the 
door open and ran out. 

There below is the lake. Into the lake with you, 
you murderess, you more than murderess ! I run 
down the street. At the electric clock I stopped to 
catch my breath. It is five o’clock, my last hour. 

As I am thus running along, a man held me up, 
and said : “I am’ glad that I see you again, Gitta. 
But why do you appear so lost at that? What ails 
you? Can I help you with something? 

It is the Professor of Astronomy? He holds me 
fast by the arm. I will tear myself loose, but he 
says: “Child, good child,” — Oh, how that touches 
me! — “ Good child, think, I am your father.” 

“My father! my father! I have taken revenge 
for him.” 

“ What do you say?” “ Let me loose.” 

“ Child, I am old. Let me not wrestle on the 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


81 


street with you. Look, the people are gazing at us.” 

“What have the people to do with me?” 

“ You do me wrong. I am not strong enough.” 

“ I will not do you wrong. Fare you well.” 

I tore myself loose and ran away, first down in 
the plain — I stood still. There go now on Sunday so 
many people, men and women, walking for pleasure. 
I will not destroy their pleasure ; if I jump into the 
water here some one will draw me out again ; no, 
yonder at the quay, there I will jump over the rail- 
ing when the ship starts, and the waves shall bury me 
instantly. 

There abroad shine the white houses and the green 
vineyards, bright sails swim up .the lake, pleasure 
seekers let themselves be driven hither and thither. 
I see all this and think quite differently, I am at 
entirely another place. I am yonder in the pruned 
forest on that night with my father. We sit in front 
of the village, till the day dawns, and freeze .... 
Then have I wished for me to take revenge ; now I have 
taken it — now it is enough, finished, all over with 
my life. . . . 

I come off the bridge to the quay ; there called 
to me Ronymus, opposite : “ That is fine that you 
are also once more free. I must only again on the 
ship. Be so good and hold for me this hand satchel, 
there is large valuables therein. I come instantly 
back.” He is gone and I have the satchel in my 
hand. I stand there and see how the ship pushes off ; 
on it are so many people in Sunday attire and play- 
ing gay music. Yonder are there also people who 
have to do that what you have to do. 

F 


82 


brigitta: a tale 


Away with you, you eye murderess ! The waves 
slap at the shore — why jump I not into the waves? 
What matters it to me the satchel with the valuables 
in it? What matters to me the whole world? To 
whom belongs the gold and silver, and the forests, 
and fields, and houses in the world? They shall 
quarrel among themselves about that when I am 
dead. . . . 

I see Ronymus coming, and now it strikes me 
like lightning in the soul. To die — that is nothing. 
No, you have wished he shall again do good, the 
had man — and you? You wish to run away? No, 
you must go back and repent and you must do 
good 

I throw the satchel down to Ronymus and run 
back to the establishment. I must pass through so 
many people, who come meeting me, as if I through 
the waves in the lake must make my way. 

TWENTY-THIRD CHAPTER. 

When I entered the house, I let myself report to 
the Professor. He let me say I shall wait in the 
operation room. I must there a long time still wait. 

At last the Professor rang a bell, that I should go 
to him. He sat at the desk and was writing. Without 
looking at me, he said : “ Seat yourself.” He wrote 
on. At last he turned around and said: “ I have 
known it, that you 'would come again, and haven’t 
searched for you. We are allowed to make no sensa- 
tion, the honor of the institution required this. ” 

I brought at length these words forth : “ Yes, I 
have offended not only this man, I have wronged 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 83 

your whole house. Am I allowed now to inquire how 
does it fare with the Captain?” 

The Professor took off his glasses, breathed on 
them, wiped them, put them on again, and spoke 
with a voice that was quite strange tome: “Yes, 
well, you are allowed to ask. He has bled severely, 
but is doing quite well.” 

“And is he blind?” “Yes.” “And remains so?” 
“Yes.” 

It was to me then I can’t breathe more, no more 
open my eyes. I composed myself and related how 
everything occurred. The Professor remained again 
still for a long time, without noticing me, and finally 
said : “ It was wrong of you, that already so long 
you have not told me what the Captain did to you. 
But undutiful, it is still cruel, what you wished to 
do. Now I have this confidence in you, that you 
obey my orders.” 

“All, all. What shall I do.” 

Chiefly nothing at all. Go to your room, don’t 
leave until I call you. I trust myself to you, that 
you without my knowledge undertake nothing. Go 
to your room, lock it, and open to no one but me. 
Or better, I lock you up in the same. Give me your 
hand, that you keep yourself quiet.” 

I gave him my hand, and his otherwise so quiet 
strong hand trembled. 

He accompanied me to my room and locked up 
behind me. There sat I now a captive. I opened, 
I know not why, my trunk. There was my savings, 
my clothing, and there lay the amulet. 

“Oh mother ! mother ! how hast thou suspected it.” 

I sat for a long time on my trunk ; I was in 


84 


brigitta: a tale 


thoughts by the dead, out of doors from real life. 

It eased my heart that I at last could weep. 

From the city up rang the evening bells ; now 
turn the people homeward from the Sunday prom- 
enade to enjoy themselves with the rest of the night 
and at their work in the morning, and I, what will 
become of me? I come before the Court, and must 
I atone for lasting years? 

A prisoner turns the words that have been said to- 
him a hundred times over. The Professor has dis- 
tinctly said he wished to make no sensation, the 
honor of the house required it — he would not turn 
me over to the Court; but what will happen to me? 
How will I be punished? I will bear it patiently and 
repent. . . . 

But why has the Professor said: What do you 
wish to do? Wish? Have I not then to doit? I 
then only dream that I do it. And has he not said, 
he is forever blind? What will Ronymus say? Alas, 
the good Ronymus. the faithful soul, it will break 
his heart that I am thus situated, no one in the world 
has so loved me as he. And now, in the midst of my 
distress, it is shown me that I have also loved him, 
loved from my heart ; now I must weep, on his ac- 
count as well as mine. I have forbidden him that he 
should do anything to the Captain, and already I 
have done it myself and so shocking. I must have 
screamed aloud for compassion. And there below 
lies the Captain and comes no more of a night from 
within. Suddenly it comes to me, as if it had come 
day. Yes, so it is, so must it be. 

I promised myself that I would never leave the 
Captain, so long as he lives; I nurse him as if he 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


85 


were my father, and I will thank God if nothing 
further will be laid on me. I raised up the window. 

A shooting star flew in the heavens, as if a token 
were given me that my offering was accepted. God 
be praised and thanked I can still do good. . . . 

I lay myself down ; I feel terribly hungry, but in 
the room there is nothing but water ; I drink, and 
must wonder why I would wish to kill myself. No, 
no, I still live and will yet live to do good. I was 
u,sleep and first woke up, when there was a knocking 
at my room. 

TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER. 

The Professor was there and said : “ I know you 
have passed a bitter night ; you have in a single 
night suffered seven years in prison. You have de- 
served it. But now I can comfort you, you have not 
blinded the Capitain.” 

“ What say you. So he is also sound and seeing?” 

“ Let me calmly speak freely. I had previously 
little hope. I have in the meantime still further be- 
lieved in a possibility of a cure, but forthwith after 
the operation it was decided. So do you cheer up. 
By me you can remain, as you yourself will examine 
nothing more henceforth. But you shall not be cast 
out. You stay, till something else is discovered for 
you.” 

Oh ! If a lost soul awakes in heavenly bliss it can 
not be happier than I. 

I said again directly to the Professor, that I un- 
dertook for myself never to forsake the Captain, and 
to stay by him if he wishes to have me. I was still 
in fault, I have wished yet to do so. 


86 


brigitta: a tale 


The Professor heard me Surprised, and with a calm 
look was silent again for a long time, as this was his 
habit. Then he advised me that I should not hurry- 
over anything ; he can not generally approve of my 
purpose, and should also reflect whether the Captain 
might not some day lay violent hands on me. 

That I had not yet considered, but I still supposed 
there was no danger, a blind man is weak, and I am 
strong. I will conquer him again through kindness. 
I asked if the Captain knows it was not I who drove 
him into blindness, and the Professor stated that the 
Captain called him a bungler and besides has called 
him many worse names. I desired that I be allowed 
to go to the Captain. I begged to permit me to be 
alone with him. The Professor again refused me. 
We walked in by the Captain. 

He sat bent over in a large easy chair and had 
his hand laid on the head of Rack. He moved him- 
self not when he heard us step in. When the Profes- 
sor said, “ Gitta is here and wishes to ask your par- 
don,” he pushed the dog away, raised himself up and 
said: “Indeed, and shall that be all? I am expect- 
ing a telegram from my friend Schaller, an advocate 
will show you what belongs to me and what belongs 
to you. Now, Gitta, do you enjoy your revenge?” 

Yet before I could answer the Professor repeated 
that my act was unfaithful, but without it the eye- 
sight couldn’t have been saved. The Captain mur- 
mured, unintelligibly lost before himself, then he 
called: “Shame! I was caught in the quarters of 
hypocrites and scoundrels. I am not yet clear above 
your swindling. She must have torn off the band- 
age, with it your blundering didn’t come to light, or 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


87 


do you confess yourself as a blunderer, in order to 
wash clean the sweetheart of the great doctor of 
Berlin?” 

I shuddered, as if one out of the lowest hell spoke 
from below. Does this misery thus pervert and 
pollute everybody? Oh, how sad I The man is so 
miserable and so spiteful. 

I composed myself and said to him, I allow myself 
not through bad talk to mislead, I acknowledge myself 
at fault, I have in anger wished to make him blind, 
and for that I wish in humility to repent and serve 
and not forsake him during life. “Will you do that? 
Come here, give me your hand I Come nearer,” 
spoke the Captain. I gave him my hand and he 
pressed it, I mean that he bruised it. “I have your 
promise. You are witness. You! you there, Mr. 
Professor,” he gnashed. 

“ I tore my hand loose and said : “ You have done 
me shameful, that must be the last time. I say to 
you, I keep my promise. But you bear in mind 
yourself, I am stronger than you. And if still, a 
single time, it be as it is, you wish to abuse me, then 
I forsake you in that very hour. These are my terms.” 

It was still in the sitting room, there a letter was 
brought. The Captain desired that I read, and in 
the letter it said, “ Schaller has died of apoplexy, 
with a champagne glass in his hand, that he had just 
emptied.” 

The Captain bit his lips together and gave no 
sound from himself. When the Professor wished to 
go, he called'. “Do you remain, Mr. Professor. I 
desire one thing, then I surrender up everything 
else.” “And what do you desire?” “Do you give 


88 


brigitta: a tale • 


me poison. For what purpose shall I still live?” 

“ I have expected that you would request this of 
me, but you can yourself say in advance, also, that I 
comply not with your request. Your Lord wishes 
that we regard this life other than duty, but for you 
it shall be only a pleasure, a merry beverage ; when it 
is not, so shatter you the vessel. You wish not longer 
to live, but you must, and you will yet become thank- 
ful.” “ I become? Good. I will take to heart 3mur 
noble words,” nodded the Captain, half consenting, 
half unwillingly. 

The Professor went; I stay by the Captain. He 
called me to him and said, in his trunk lies a loaded 
double-barrel pistol ; I must give it to him, he must 
shoot himself, he can not live ; he claims my obedi- 
ence as the only and last atonement for my deed. 
My heart stood still, but I recovered myself and said : 
“ Who goes bail for me for this, that you shoot your- 
self and not me?” 

“ See there, you are very prudent I But lay for 
me the pistol on the table and go out of the room.” 

I repeated that I wdll not humor him. He declared 
me very forward, that I have exacted for myself too 
much ; it is not possible that I take care of him, I 
must always curse him. 

“And when you also throw good towards me, for 
what shall I still live?” 

Then heaven gave me the right words; “You 
must still live, so that I can do good to you.” “ Do 
good to me? I will believe it. I shall also yet live 
to see that good will be done to me?” He laid him- 
self down and soon was fast asleep. 

LofC. 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


89 


TWENTY-FIFTH CHAPTER. 

I sat in the adjoining room ; there it was reported 
to me that a man from my home wished to speak to 
me, let him not be sent away. Who can it be? 

I hastened to the vestibule : there stood the Road- 
master, the father of Ronymus. 

“ Do you still know me?” he smiled with self- 
satisfaction ; “ surely not, I look like quite another 
person? Ronymus has fixed me up so, he has bid me 
come, has let me wear this new suit. But come into 
the sitting room, I have something to say to you that 
is good.” 

I asked him to talk low, for I have a patient in 
the next room who is now asleep. 

“Yes, it is right that you bring up to me the 
main point. There must be an end of waiting on the 
sick. We allow you no longer at that, you the Wild 
Plum farmer’s daughter I No, that is permitted to 
be no longer. If you had still lived to see also only 
this ! Let me only weep, this harms nothing. I 
only wish that I may some day be wept for. Yes, 
that I do not forget it, still before her death she has 
solemnly enjoined on me that I deliver to you the 
money for your half of the goats and for your half of 
three geese. I have it by me. And for your hens 
there is increase, that I bring along to you in the 
Lamb Tavern.” 

I understand not what all this shall be, and it 
was hard to bring the good Roadmaster to rights. 
How I also asked, was this then to be with the Lamb 
Tavern? 

He called: “Thus? Do you not yet know this? 
Must you yet know it, the great lodging tavern over 


90 


BRIGITTA : A TALE 


yonder in the valley? And there is a field and pasture- 
land by it, and also a piece of vineyard and a piece 
of forest — all, all, and the full household furniture 
is also there, one needs to provide nothing at all ; 
there will you beautifully and good live with each 
other. So? Also has Ronymus to you said nothing 
at all of this, that he has bought the Lamb Tavern 
and that you will there keep house with each other? 
But I am also there, I go along. I can indeed still 
work so much that I earn my bread.” 

I asked after Ronymus and the Roadmaster 
laughed : “ Yes, he is very foolish — that is to say, he is 
otherwise very sensible, that shows itself indeed, he 
has economized well — but he is madly in love with 
you ; that is the way we are, I have also thus had it 
with my Bonifacia. Oh, dear God, why has she not 
lived to see this, that she can sing the children to 
sleep. You know truly that she could sing so well, 
but she sings down from heaven.” 

The Roadmaster weeps, but he can bring forth no 
more words. 

I said: “Yes, Roadmaster.” “Say not Road- 
master, say father-in-law.” 

“Does Ronymus know this from the Captain?” 

“ Certainly. It appears to the fellow quite right 
that he is blind.” 

Out of the next room called the Captain : “ Who 
is there? Who says that it is right, that it appears 
right to me?” 

I requested the Roadmaster that he go now and 
send Ronymus to me this evening. I went to the 
Captain. I must tell him who was there, and he said 
in a low voice : “ Every road hand is now above me.” 


BY BERTHOI D AUERBACH. 


91 


TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER. 

Ronymus came in the evening. He laid both 
hands on his breast and could not talk. I took him 
by the hand, led him to my room, and said : “ Rony- 
mus, you have me willingly, and I say it straight out 
to you, I have you also willingly, but — ” 

“ But what? Now is everything good, nothing 
further is needed.” 

“Ronymus! I have solemnly promised the Cap- 
tain that I will not leave him so long as for me an 
eye still stands open.” 

“Then shall your eyes stand open yet seventy- 
seven years and still a pair of autumns besides. Well, 
so be it then. We take the fellow to us and feed 
him, until he is dead.” 

“No, Ronymus, not thus, you must do it will- 
ingly.” 

“ One can’t compel himself to do willingly. But 
for the love of you I can consent thereto. You I 
must have, you I take, even if I get seven devils into 
the bargain. And if I consider it rightly, so it goes 
quite well ; we have indeed a public house with eleven 
rooms and five garrets, and the Captain must still 
have a good pile of money from his robber time here ; 
and if I mistake not, so good deeds don’t bring bad 
ones. Oh, thou I You make yet a good natured fel- 
low out of me. Now do you laugh? Why do you 
weep?” 

I haven’t been able to say it, and Ronymus laid, 
hold of me with both hands and looked at me and 
said: “It came forth to him yet as a dream, that 
the Princess of the Wild Plum Farm would marry 


^2 


brigitta: a tale 


him.” But it must be true, and for proof that it is 
true, I shall give him a kiss. I requested him now 
to go with me to the Captain and to bring every- 
thing in order. He said : “ Yes, yes, it is already so 
with me. When I was yet a small boy, then has the 
bad dog of your uncle Donatus torn my breeches. 
For weeks I have carried a suitable stone in my 
pocket in order to strike that dog on the head ; but 
when I was able to do it, I have taken the stone out 
of my pocket and did nothing to the dog. Thus it 
now happens to me also with the Captain. But 
come, I will make it indeed right.” Hand in hand 
we went to the Captain. 

“Mr. Captain, I come with my bridegroom,” I 
said. 

“What? You? Who? With whom?” He let 
me not come farther to words and cursed the whole 
world — a blind man to be betrayed, and solemn oaths 
to be of no value. 

He stretched out his arm and screamed, “if he 
could only choke me; one single woman for all.” 

“You listen to us still quiet and patient,” said 
Konymus. 

“ Who spoke there? Who is that?” 

“ I, Ronymus !” “ Who is Ronymus?” 

“ I have been a servant at the Wild Plum Farm of 
Xander. I have at that time offended the Lord Cap- 
tain. You pardon me. It shall not be spoken of. 
I have had a hatred to this Lord Captain. I have it 
no longer. I beg you also to have none now. We 
will hold you in honor. Let you speak out to me. I 
have been a soldier. But that I have not wished to 
speak of now. . We have bought a public house, and 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


9B 


there you shall stay with us and have a good time, 
and my wife and I and those that come after shall be 
servants to you, as if you were their grandfather. 
And my father, the Roadmaster, we have also with 
us. You shall see — will say, you shall experience it — 
how we are to you day and night, and you will enjoy 
yourself well with us. My deceased mother has said 
a hundred times no one can cook so well as Brigitta. 
Mister 1 Mister! Let you in all things now be good, I 
can not say more.” 

His voice failed him, big drops stood on his fore- 
head, and as he now wiped them from his forehead, I 
had willingly kissed his hands. But I can do noth- 
ing but weep. Ronymus grasped my hand and said : 
“ You shall not weep. You shall be joyful.” 

The Captain for a long time said not a word. At 
last he said:- “How are you called?” “I have 
already said it, Ronymus.” 

“ Ronymus, do you believe I might have much 
money, and this descends to you then?” 

“ Yes, we are ready to take it, and I suppose we 
are allowed, too.” 

“ So? Do you believe I am to be blamed by you 
because Xander has gone to the bottom? Speak 
honorably, do you believe that?” 

“ Yes.” Again was the Captain a long time quiet. 
He moved the fingers of both hands quickly in the 
air, and then said: “Come here, Ronymus, come 
nearer. You seem to be an honest fellow. I could 
for myself specially make it good by you if I pre- 
tended to be rich, but I will not. I will to you hon- 


94 


brigitta: a tale 


estly say I possess nothing more. Do you believe 
that?” 

“ No, I believe it not.” 

“ But it is so. Will you now still take me into 
the house and maintain me, and just now willingly?” 

“ Even now willingly?” answered Ronymus. “ No. 
but our word we keep. Brigitta says she is indebted 
to you, and I as her husband will pay the debts of 
my wife.” 

“ Now it is well ; I trust you. I have been robbed, 
I have nothing but a good annuity so long as I live.” 

“ Yes, I go with you, Gitta ; with this man you 
will be happy.” 

In my room again I have taken Ronymus around 
the neck, and more willingly has never yet a wife in 
the world embraced her husband than I have mine. 
And is there a better, more honorable man in the 
world? 

He took something out of his pocket and said : 
“This has my deceased mother bequeathed to you; 
this is your wedding gift ; in this reticule is the 
stone chip that was in my father’s eye, and on her 
death bed has my mother bequeathed it to you ; she 
has prophesied that you will be my wife.” 

As he at last went away, he said : “ Oh, thou 1 I — 
I gained the Wild Plum farmer’s daughter; I — I got 
the Princess of the Wild Plum Farm!” 

Well, this very day Ronymus spoke of my father, 
and especially of my mother, as if they were prince 
and princess ; and when he is very jovial he calls me, 
but only in private, the Princess of the Wild Plum 
Farm.” 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 


95 


TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER. 

The departure from the institution, from our ex- 
cellent Professor, and from the patients, has become 
severe to me. 

The Roadmaster and the Captain are with us 
here alone in the public house. 

The Roadmaster was, moreover, good to eveiy- 
body. It is said he has not troubled himself much 
about them, but he has not harmed any one, and has 
also against no one anything in his soul. Only the 
Captain he hated unto the very death ; he wished at 
first not to go with us, when we took with us the 
Captain. 

Ronymus knew that he would not help, but I 
succeeded at last in quieting him. I kept it before 
him, how it was at that time to him, when he in the 
fear of losing his eye had come to Hayden ; he shall 
show his gratitude with it by being patient towards 
the blind. 

“ When you remind me of that, I must follow 
you,” the Roadmaster has said. The good road that 
leads from our house over the mountain, into the 
fields and into the forest, that has the father-in-law, 
by himself alone, fitted up. 

The Captain was good to the children, and he was 
also a fortune to them. There can nothing be given 
for a child, that it can better do, than when from day 
to day it can render service to a helpless person ; that 
makes it willing and thoughtful, in order to do good, 
and that is the best school and the best food for a 
young mind. 

The Roadmaster and the Captain have soon died. 


96 brigitta: a tale 

one after the other, although they were not really 
sick. 

One day the Roadmaster came home and said to 
Ronymus : “I have let the hammer and shovel and 
rake lie there above at the forest. I do not feel at all 
well. I will lay myself down. Bring me a sup of 
cherry cordial. ” 

He went to his room, and soon thereafter, as Rony- 
mus followed, he found his father dead. He must 
have died very easy. 

We gave ourselves all the labor, that the Captain 
notice nothing of the death and burial of the father- 
in-law, but he has yet noticed it, and has gone with 
the funeral obsequies, Agnes driving for him. This 
was his last going out. 

“ Your father has made the road, that others can 
travel thereon,” he has said tp Ronymus, on his re- 
turn home. 

Further no word, generally he has from that time 
on little more said. Formerly he had the children 
much around him, now has he wished to have always 
only me about him. 

“ You are once more become a daughter, now is 
that also past,” he said one day, “to me — not to 

me ...” 

I have well understood what he meant, but I can- 
not lie. I cannot say to him that I have loved him, 
I did not. 

One day a letter came from Paris ; I must read it 
aloud to him ; the letter was from his wife, and there 
stood very terrible words in it. 

The Captain was silent for a good while, then he 
said: “ Strike a light ! Burn the letter !” lobeyed 


BY BERTHOLD AUERBACH. 97 

him, I must think thereon how my father burned 
his name. 

“Give me the ashes in my hand,” said the Cap- 
tain. “Sol It is all over. This does she to me, to 
her. I did only good, sacrificed all, everything. I had 
come upon the wrong woman. You ... to you . . . 
To you I have done only wicked, and you, you have 
love for me. Say, have you love? Are you silent? 
It is right, it is honest . . . You have done good to 
me . . . Good . . . 

He still muttered words that I didn’t understand. 
I was uneasy and afraid. I called Ronymus, he came ; 
the Captain breathed heavy, I sank on my knees, and 
Ronymus closed for him his eyes — the dead eyes. 

The Captain is buried beside my father-in-law, 
the Roadmaster . . . So, now I am done. I know 
not whether any one can say of others or himself, he 
has fulfilled the commandment, “ Love your enemy.” 
I, for myself, cannot say it. 

THE END. 


G 




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